ANKARA – Members of the Youth Assembly of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) emphasized that in addition to the parliamentary commission set to begin work on August 5, lasting peace in Turkey, particularly a resolution to the Kurdish issue, will require constitutional changes.

 

The upcoming commission, part of the "Peace and Democratic Society Process," will hold its first meeting to establish its working procedures. HDK youth members said while this is a step forward, real transformation depends on formal legal and constitutional reforms.

 

‘LEGAL GUARANTEES NEEDED FOR PEACE PROCESS PARTICIPANTS’

 

Elif Aslan, a member of the HDK Youth Assembly, stated that those involved in the process must be protected under law: "For the process to yield lasting results, changes must be made either in Parliament or at the constitutional level." She also criticized the denial of cultural rights to Kurds and other ethnic groups, calling for constitutional recognition of these rights.

 

Elif Aslan also called for the repeal of Turkey’s Anti-Terror Law (TMK), stating that people with medical reports declaring them unfit for prison are still being held, and political prisoners remain jailed despite rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). "The commission should ensure that no one is imprisoned for their political views," she added.

 

‘YOUTH MUST BE THE AGENTS OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY’

 

Şevval Çaşurluk stressed the importance of young people, especially young women, in the peace process. "Youth must see themselves as active agents in building a democratic society," she said. "We must clearly define the kind of peace we seek. The state still denies village burnings, massacres, and torture. These must be confronted if we are to build social peace."

 

She also criticized the government’s "Terror-Free Turkey" rhetoric, saying it reinforces chauvinistic and nationalist narratives: "This language legitimizes any attempt to sabotage the peace process. We reject this. Guerrilla fighters must be allowed to participate in politics through constitutional amendments, and the injustices in prisons must end."

 

‘WE’RE ORGANIZING PANELS AND YOUTH DISCUSSIONS’

 

Jiyan Bahadır pointed out that the Kurdish question is one of the most complex issues in the Middle East and that resolving it has regional implications. She said HDK Youth is actively engaging the public through school-based forums and will soon hold a panel on "Democratic Society Socialism" at Middle East Technical University (METU).

 

Bahadır also highlighted youth drug abuse as a major threat to social cohesion: "Drugs isolate young people from communal life and erode shared values. As HDK Youth Assembly, we’ll work tirelessly with other organizations to reintegrate youth through ethical and political initiatives."