Please let me, first of all, express my deep gratitude and happiness for being with you. I have been very keen to participate in this conference. Despite the fact that the conference highlights an issue everyone is interested in, no one could stop its serious repercussions on society.

In times of war, there’s always room to break the barrier of ethics and laws, and there is a key entry point to harm societies and nations.

 

Dear friends,

Since the beginning of history, women have faced various forms of discrimination, exclusion and marginalization. As a result, women have always served as a low wall jumped over by everyone. Women have suffered, and still do suffer, from a constant persecution that unfortunately we have not yet been able to end. For instance, discriminatory laws that demean women are still in force in many countries, and abusive practices targeting women are still being protected by such laws. Simply put, women’s suffering exists in both war and peace.

Despite women’s role in creating the human civilization and preserving human values that have contributed to reducing the levels of violence and cruelty, various authorities, namely all political, social and religious authorities, have adopted suspicious and harsh policies towards women.

Deficiencies in these polices and their disregard for the principle of justice and equity must always be remembered. It is unreasonable for these policies to continue humiliating women. In order not to generalize, it is worth mentioning that some countries have made great strides in changing the negative attitude towards women, but in many other countries women still suffer from exclusion and violence nonetheless.

 

Dear friends,

I have always expressed unshakeable belief that women's rights are indeed human rights. For me, it makes no sense to distinguish between human rights and women's rights. Whenever men get their rights, women will do as well. But this belief, which I defend so strongly, does not prevent me from recognizing that women are always the weakest link in the chain during wars and armed conflicts.  

In most wars, as you know, women are subjected to even more violations than the warriors themselves. Women as the bulk of unarmed civilians are indiscriminately killed, as well as are vulnerable to sexual assaults and rapes intended to humiliate them and their community. Moreover, women in most areas of armed conflict are forced into involuntarily prostitution. In case women could escape untouched, they wouldn’t escape psychological and social consequences of war.

 

Dear friends,

Women are increasingly suffering in prisons and detention centers where all forms of torture and humiliation are practiced. These violations should not be tolerated, but rather the regimes and groups that carry out such despicable acts should be prosecuted instead of trying to open a new page, as is the case with the Syrian regime and the Iranian militias scattered across the Arab region.

The policy of turning a blind eye to persecution of women and societies in general gives a false message that killers can commit different forms of crimes without being held accountable, and this means more conflicts and armed conflicts.

Is this what the world needs? I do not think so. In fact, the world needs peace more than anything else, so there must be an end to tolerance for criminals, whatever the reasons.

 

Dear friends,

Seven years ago, the Arab Spring revolutions took place in several countries in the Middle East. These revolutions aimed at overthrowing the oppressive regimes that practiced all forms of bullying and corruption, and seek with all its might to defend their bad heritage and punish their peoples for demanding change, unfortunately with the complicity of the West.  

Hence, we must all unite to face aggressive discourse and ugly practices against women. We are ultimately brothers in humanity. It is shameful to remain silent about violations and crimes against women, children and men.

 

Dear friends,

You are seeing with your own eyes the map of armed conflicts, countless testimonies of women who have been raped, sexually assaulted and tortured and many cases of women who have been executed and killed. Not only that, you realize that the reality of women goes from bad to worse due to fierce wars here and there. You see a complete massacre with all its boring details, including the names of criminals and killers who believe they could commit crimes with impunity.

As long as things are clear, our policies should be clear. Women who have been subjected to various attacks need significant political, social, economic and human rights support. We have to do our duty towards courageous women who have come across difficult times and seek to get out of this painful reality.

 

Dear friends,

Let us work together for peace. Let us begin to isolate the criminals, and women will help us in achieving justice. Women in all times look for justice. As women are the most vulnerable to repression, terrorism and physical and psychological attacks, their contribution will be fair and effective.

On the personal level, I have always felt proud to be a woman who is struggling for freedom and human rights with relentless determination. All the women who struggle for peace, justice and non-discrimination give me the psychological and human support to continue without hesitation.

I sincerely extend warm greetings to each woman resisting injustice and war with courage and dedication. I feel that the world will be fine as long as there are those who defend it with all sincerity and bravery.