The Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) raised awareness about the genocide in Palestine with an interactive installation held at the heart of New York, Times Square. KADEM echoed the voices of brave Palestinian women, shouting out to the world from New York Times Square.

KADEM, as part of the International Women’s Day activities, presented an interactive installation titled “International Civil Support for Palestinian Women” in New York, highlighting Israel’s ongoing genocide and the courageous resistance of women in Gaza.

In honor of March, which encompasses International Women’s Day, KADEM hosted a series of programs at the United Nations. Furthermore, in New York’s Times Square, KADEM hosted a large-scale press gathering to mark the occasion. The press briefing at the square was led by Dr. Saliha Okur Gümrükçüoğlu, The chair of the executive board of KADEM.

In the press statement, Gümrükçüoğlu stated, “Even oppression progresses unjustly for women. Over nine thousand Palestinian women are no longer among us. The more tragic thing is that what is happening is not new for Palestinian women or for the thousands of women trapped in other war and conflict zones”

Gümrükçüoğlu continued as follows:

“Palestinian women have long been subjected to a systematic genocide, extending over generations, in what has been turned into the world’s largest death camp. They endure a form of evil beyond mere violence. On the platform behind me, there is a symbolic Palestinian flag made of tetreez, a type of embroidery, crafted by Palestinian women. Each scarf you take from this platform represents a woman killed by Israel. As a symbol of sharing their pain, I urge those who have not yet taken one to do so. This way, we will show everyone that we haven’t forgotten Palestinian women, that we refuse to remain silent in the face of this injustice, and that there are unbreakable bonds among women worldwide.”

Since October 7th, drawing attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, KADEM Chair Gümrükçüoğlu stated, “Yes, as a world, we are witnessing the horror of a colossal devastation. A people are being bombed relentlessly. For months, the bitterest of deaths are being inflicted upon them. Newly born babies are dying of hunger. It’s not just Gaza being bombed; the universal values that people have collectively built over thousands of years are also being bombed. Each bomb falls upon all of us.”

“On the other hand, if there is something we can be proud of today, it is the vehement opposition to this attack from people all around the world. For months, strong protests have been coming from the east to the west, from the south to the north. This shows us that the true children of light are the peace-seeking peoples.”

In her concluding remarks of the press statement, Gümrükçüoğlu stated, “We have made our choice. We have decided to stand alongside the honorable Palestinian women who are fighting for their lives, on the right side of history. We want everyone to know this: the sole victim of Israel’s genocide is not just the Palestinian people; it is the dignity of humanity. And preserving the dignity of humanity, regardless of race or religion, is our shared responsibility!”

The event, consisting of an installation and a press statement, featured scarves in the colors of the Palestinian flag hung on poles, symbolizing the women killed in Gaza. The traditional tatreez embroidery forming the Palestinian flag on the poles emphasized the resistance of Palestinian women. As scarves were taken from the poles, the tatreez-embroidered Palestinian flag became visible. Thus, with the participation of conscientious Americans, the message “We stand with Palestinian women” was conveyed from Times Square.

The press statement saw the participation not only of numerous compassionate residents of New York and tourists visiting Times Square, but also Orthodox Jews known for their opposition to Israeli massacres, including Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta. Additionally, representatives of Turkish NGOs and politicians from New York attending the meetings of the UN Commission on the Status of Women also joined the event.