Hey, I’m Irem Kocer and I’m running with Left Action – Free Palestine this year to be the Women’s officer. I’m a socialist and a pro-Palestine activist here at Curtin University studying Fine Arts and History.
With my position, I want to bring more activism to the women’s department. Women’s rights are under attacks all around the world. As far right governments increase in number around the world, sexist rhetoric and gender stereotypes are being entrenched and normalised in our society. Here in Perth anti-abortion bigots march every year to push back abortion rights, and they must be resisted every time they decide to mobilise. Additionally, women continue to suffer sexism at work, home and at university.
I think the Curtin Guild needs to take more of an activist role in fighting against bigotry, oppression and inequality. Left action - Free Palestine are the only genuine left wing activist ticket who want to turn the guild into a fighting force. We can do this by using the Guild’s resources and platform to build campaigns and mobilise students around social justice issues.
Left Action - Free Palestine members have led campaigns for a number of social justice issues. We were part of leading the protest campaign for abortion rights in WA, and this successfully pressured the Labor government to take abortion off the criminal code in 2023. We have also been crucial to organising Palestine solidarity actions on campus - these have mobilised hundreds of students in opposition to Curtin’s ties to weapons companies and is the type of activism we need to make the University administration hear our voices and fight for our rights. This is what the kind of activist approach I think the Student Guild needs.
I will be committed to fighting for students rights as a women's officer and using my position to run campaigns fighting for social justice.
Vote [1] Left Action - Free Palestine
Vote [1] Hamide and Emily for NUS Delegate