Launch of campaign to support YPJ and demand their integration into Defense Ministry structure

In a statement issued today, Sunday, at the March 12 Stadium in Qamishlo, the Joint Platform of Women's Movements and Organizations announced the launch of a campaign to support the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) and demand their participation in the integration process, in accordance with the January 29 agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Interim Government.

The statement was read in three languages: Kurdish by Rehan Temo, spokesperson for the Kongra Star in Qamishlo; Arabic by Wasif Danda, Vice President of the Women's Body in Jazera; and Syriac by Samira Koriya Hanna, a member of the Syriac Women's Union. Dozens of women, members of women's organizations, representatives of political parties, human rights activists, intellectuals, and feminist activists attended the event, waving Kongra Star flags and a banner that read, "We are all YPJ, the YPJ represents us."

The statement read as:

“The legitimate defense of oneself and one's community against terrorism and organized violence is a right guaranteed by international laws and conventions, based on the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, Resolution 1235, and the UN Charter on Security and Peace, especially when women and children are the primary targets of murder, abduction, displacement, and enslavement.

Over the past years, Syria has witnessed widespread crimes committed by terrorist organizations against civilians. Women have been subjected to the most heinous forms of violence and abuse, and children and women have been subjected to all forms of violations. This has imposed upon society the responsibility to defend itself and the most vulnerable groups.

Under these circumstances, the need arose for forces capable of protecting women, children, and society, and of confronting terrorism that targets humanity, its dignity, and its right to life. It was from this perspective that the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) were formed.

Since its establishment in Rojava, the YPJ has proven to be the most effective force and the ultimate symbol of women's organization throughout Syria. Over the past years, the YPJ has been one of the most prominent forces confronting terrorism and has presented an exceptional model in defending humanity, dignity and freedom. The Women's Protection Units (YPJ) were on the front lines against ISIS and other extremist groups, contributing directly to the protection of civilians, rescuing thousands of women and children, and defending local communities in all their diversity.

The female fighters in these units paid a heavy price to protect Syrian society and humanity as a whole, offering martyrs and wounded in battles to defend cities and villages, and in confronting terrorism that targeted women above all others. The role of these units was not only military, but also constituted a moral and social force that contributed to protecting women from violence and extremism, and solidified the values ​​of participation, equality, and justice.

The presence of Women's Protection Units within the army guarantees the army's commitment to its principles and its ability to defend peace and security. These units represent its moral compass, linked to a mindset that transcends the denial of others and is rooted in progressive ideas. Furthermore, the presence of women in the army has defensive duties, and at the same time, a struggle to change the mentality that rejects women's will and rights. In addition, preserving the distinctiveness of these units as a specialized female force is a national necessity, given their long experience in combating terrorism, protecting women, and participating in maintaining security and stability. It also ensures recognition of their role, history, and sacrifices.

We, at the Joint Platform of Women's Movements and Organizations in Rojava, announce the launch of a campaign to support the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) under the slogan "We are all YPJ, the YPJ represents us," and we demand the following:

1. Recognition of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) as a regular armed force within the Syrian Ministry of Defense.

2. Preservation of the YPJ structure as an integral part of the Syrian defense system in the Rojava region.

3. Protection and consolidation of the gains made by women in Rojava, which have made Kurdish and Syrian women a model to be emulated in the region and the world.

4. The release of female detainees, the return of the bodies of female martyrs, and the disclosure of the fate of missing and disappeared women.

5. We call upon the international coalition and influential powers to support the integration of the YPJ into the structure of the Syrian Ministry of Defense.

6- Given that the Syrian Constitutional Declaration does not include a provision restricting military service to men, this opens the door to enhance women's participation in military and security institutions.

Therefore, we emphasize the importance of guaranteeing women's role and regulating their participation, including within specialized women's formations such as the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), in accordance with the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

We call upon all women's movements and organizations, democratic forces, and public opinion in Kurdistan and the world to support our campaign and stand with the Women's Protection Units, which have become a symbol of resistance, the defense of women's freedom, and the achievement of peace and democracy.

We also call upon all international media outlets to support this campaign as a voice for women's struggle for freedom.

The Women's Protection Units are not merely fighters; they are the standard-bearers of freedom and equality. Their integration into the Syrian army is a necessary step to enhance women's participation in state institutions, to benefit from the extensive experience these female fighters have accumulated during the years of war, and to build a national defense institution that reflects the diversity of Syrian society and the sacrifices of its sons and daughters.”

Sh-S

ANHA