The Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) celebrates its 13th anniversary on 4 April, also marking the 76th birthday of imprisoned Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan, noting the influence Öcalan’s paradigm had on the organisation of a women’s only military organisation and highlighting the international nature of the YPJ’s struggle. They also remembered the martyrs who were killed while fighting in their ranks.
In a statement, the YPJ General Command emphasised the importance Öcalan had on the development of the YPJ:
"The thoughts of Leader Apo about freedom, equality, democracy and social genders, laid the foundation stones of the struggle of the YPJ. Leader Apo believed that women's freedom would pave the way for the freedom of society, and this perspective was the basis for raising the struggle not only in Rojava [North and East Syria], but all over the world."
In their statement, the YPJ highlighted the internationalist nature of their struggle, saying it is not just the struggle of the Kurdish people, but the struggle for the freedom of all peoples. They added that their struggle has become a guide and inspiration for all women in Syria and women around the world. They emphasise that hundreds of international women from different countries took their place in the ranks of the YPJ to fight side by side against the Islamic State (ISIS) and to build up the “basis of global solidarity”.
"Not only in Rojava, all over the world, YPJ became a symbol of resistance and women's freedom. This resistance gave hope to not only the women and people of Rojava, but to all women and people of the world and strengthened the wish for freedom and social equality."
The YPJ also remembered the martyrs and many international fighters which fought in their ranks, saying that “the biggest value they [the martyrs] left us as a heritage, is the free life on these lands.”
The YPJ harshly condemned the recent attacks of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the massacres against the Alawite community in the coastal regions of Syria, in which over 1,000 civilians were killed.
"We condemn the ISIS remnants who were led by HTS on 27 November 2024 with the intention of carrying out a coup against the Ba'ath regime and who, under this pretext, murdered all those who stood in their way and, above all, committed crimes against humanity against our Alevi people."
Furthermore, the YPJ highlights that their resistance was “not only a military war against the brutality of the Islamic state, but at the same time, the war for the freedom, identity and honour of women.”
Newroz Ehmed, a member of the YPJ’s General Command, also gave an interview on the 13th anniversary of their founding, describing the situation out of which the YPJ emerged and the impact the YPJ’s resistance has had within society.
Ehmed emphasised that the YPJ emerged in the time of the Arab spring, which spread through many Middle Eastern countries, as a result of the longstanding politics of oppression and denial against Kurds in Syria and as an organised force to fight for women’s freedom.
She added that the YPJ is based on the ideology of women’s liberation developed by Abdullah Öcalan and that they consider the “problem of women’s freedom to be even deeper than the national problem”. She emphasised how the organisation of the YPJ as a women’s military force has had an impact on women in society as they have been able to get to know themselves and their strength and build self-confidence, which in turn has had an impact on men in society.
“Before, the sole role of women was to serve men,” Ehmed continued, stressing that the organisation was also always a fight against patriarchal role concepts in society.
Ehmed also remembered the heavy sacrifices, such as the thousands of women martyrs who gave their lives fighting in the ranks of the YPJ, and clarified it is important to remember that they choose to fight and sacrifice their lives “for themselves, and not because it was forced upon them”.
The YPJ Information & Documentation Office has shared a video on X, celebrating the anniversary, Öcalan’s birthday and remembering the martyrs of the YPJ. They highlighted the “dedication, strength and commitment” these martyrs have given to organise the YPJ as an “invincible women’s force”.
Tomorrow marks the 13th anniversary of the foundation of our Women’s Defense Forces & the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan. W are celebrating the dedication, strength and commitment that our YPJ fighters and martyrs have given to organise as an invincible women’s force. 🪷 pic.twitter.com/vGmasuZIcj
— YPJ Information & Documentation Office (@YPJ_Info) April 3, 2025
