Women's perceptions on peace and justice: The case of the Kurdish issue in Turkey

The lack of resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey has been a major source of grievance affecting the lives of many, particularly women. Research shows that conflict has gender-specific effects. Considering the particular ways in which women are impacted by long-term political tensions which also involve armed conflict, their standpoint seems highly valuable to corroborate the urgency of a democratic and peaceful resolution of this issue. Based on in-depth interviews with the representatives of civil society organizations, initiatives and women's organizations, the article explores women's perceptions of peace and justice, and it investigates their possible contribution towards a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue. We argue that the intersectionally diverse standpoint(s) of women, due to the particular gendered effects of conflict on their everyday lives, living conditions, bodily integrity and affective relationships, greatly contributes to an adequate conceptualization of peace and justice and the relation between them.