Qubad Talabani: There is No Honor in Femicide

PUKMEDIA

Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

On Sunday, November 26, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Qubad Talabani delivered a speech at the Sulaymaniyah Forum to combat violence against women and girls, in which he stated that eliminating violence against women requires a radical solution and collaboration between the government and civil society.

The Sulaymaniyah Forum, which addressed violence against women and girls, was held as part of a 16-day campaign to end violence against women. This campaign is observed every year in the Kurdistan Region, beginning on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls. 

Qubad Talabani stated in his speech, "I tell the women and girls of Kurdistan that you have many brave men with you who will defend your rights alongside you."

"We must collaborate with girls and women in our society and believe that ending violence against women is a step closer to complete peace; ending violence requires a radical solution as well as government and civil society cooperation and coordination," he added. Dozens of civil society organizations gathered in the three cities of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, and Duhok to advocate for women's freedom. However, we believe that this cannot be achieved solely through government and civil society efforts. Combating violence against women and girls is a neglected issue in the Kurdistan Region, so more effort is needed to elevate this concern to the level of a national concern."

"Economic growth is impossible if half of society is denied access to the labor market," he added. 

"Democracy cannot advance when half of society is unable to freely elect its legitimate representatives," he added. The continuation of social and tribal agreements in place of official offices and court orders will erode the rule of law. This is also true in every other way. We must all work together to reduce violence. There is no justification for violence. We believe that violence begins within the family unit, so we must prioritize the intellectual development of future generations."

He also mentioned police officer Mohammed Latif, who was killed while responding to a domestic violence call, and said, "In the coming days, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Mohammed Latif, who was martyred for women's freedom and rights, I promised his family that I will not stop until his killers are arrested and punished, and fortunately, the Kurdistan Region's Asayish Agency searched for the killers from city to city and country to country and did not give up." 

Qubad Talabani concluded his speech by saying, "Every individual, without exception, must be concerned with eliminating the thought of violence." Face this issue collectively, beginning with the most insignificant matter and culminating in the pretextual murder of a woman in the name of honor. We must all state unequivocally that femicide has no honor."



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