Female YPJ fighter affirms struggle for constitutional protection of women’s rights

A fighter in the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), Roj Amouda, spoke about the early stages of her life before joining the units. She highlighted the main motivations and reasons that led her to make the decision to join, emphasizing the great importance of women’s organization and the need to structure their efforts in defending their rights and freedom. She also remembered all the male and female fighters who were martyred during years of fighting.

She said that her decision to join the Women’s Protection Units in 2017 came from a desire to search for women’s identity and rights. Before that, she explained, her life revolved around studying and household work without sufficient awareness of her rights and responsibilities.

In an exclusive interview with ANHA agency, she added that her experience within the units helped her understand the reality of women in society and recognize their abilities and role in managing their affairs and defending themselves, in addition to gaining combat and self-defense skills.

“Challenges and Psychological Warfare Did Not Break Our Determination”

 Roj Amouda said that the biggest challenge was the refusal of some circles to accept women’s participation on battlefronts or acknowledge their role and achievements. However, she stressed that these challenges did not stop women from continuing their resistance and work.

She added that joining the units greatly changed her personality, increasing her self-confidence and determination, and strengthening her belief in women’s ability to take responsibility and perform different roles.

Roj also pointed out that psychological and media warfare was waged against female fighters, but said it did not weaken their determination or their will to continue struggling for women’s liberation. She noted that participating in battles and protecting the region strengthened friendship and solidarity among the fighters and helped raise morale during the hardest conditions.

The fighter recalled moments that deeply affected her life, especially witnessing the sacrifices of male and female fighters who gave their lives to protect their comrades during battles. She said these scenes were painful but became a motivation to continue.

Military and Security Participation

During her journey, Roj participated in several campaigns to protect the region from ISIS and attacks by the Turkish occupation state. These included the Turkish attacks on Serekaniye in 2019, the campaign to liberate Baghouz from ISIS mercenaries at the beginning of the same year, and the first security campaign in al-Hol camp in 2021 under the name “Humanity and Security Operation” against ISIS sleeper cells.

She explained that her latest military participation was in confronting attacks launched by factions affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government against areas of North and East Syria at the beginning of this year (2026).

Women Are the Foundation of a Free Society

Roj believes that the Women’s Protection Units played an important role during the Rojava Revolution and continue to play an active role in Syria today. She stressed that achieving equality and social freedom is linked to women obtaining their rights and understanding their identity and role.

She added that the experience proved women’s ability to participate in protecting their communities and confronting security challenges, noting that the world witnessed the role played by YPJ fighters in liberating several cities and regions from ISIS mercenaries.

She also emphasized that there is a major difference between the experience of the Women’s Protection Units and traditional military institutions, explaining that the units were founded on the principle of women’s independence and self-organization.

Rejection of Integration Calls

On calls to integrate the Women’s Protection Units into other institutions, Roj explained that the units reject this proposal, stressing that they were founded as an all-female military force and will continue operating within this framework. She emphasized that the units’ struggle to guarantee women’s rights in the new Syria will continue until these rights are constitutionally guaranteed.

In the conclusion of her remarks, Roj Amouda called on women and groups advocating freedom and women’s rights to support the Women’s Protection Units and back their efforts in defending women’s rights, affirming that the struggle to achieve these goals will continue.

ANHA