Researcher: YPJ is not just a military formation, but part of a women's struggle experience

Sudanese researcher, development expert, alternative policy advocate, women's rights activist, and political figure, Nimat Koko, emphasized the importance of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), considering them a fundamental component in protecting women's rights and enhancing their role in political and social life in Syria.

This came during an exclusive interview with ANHA agency, in which Koko discussed the reality of women in the region and their experiences in North and East Syria within various institutions and organizations. These organizations were formed in the context of confronting violence, oppression, and attempts at exclusion, which contributed to the development of a unique organizational and military women's experience in the region.

Naamat Koko explained that the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) were not merely a military formation, but rather emerged within a broader context linked to the experience of the women's movement in the region, which sought to build models of self-defense and organizational structures for women in the face of security and social challenges.

She added that these units have become part of the "struggle legacy of the democratic women's movement" in North and East Syria, as a result of the role they have played over the past years in protecting women and society from the dangers that accompanied the war.

In her remarks, Naamat Koko stated that any targeting of these units or reduction of their role constitutes a direct attack on women's experience in organizing and participating, and on the symbolic struggle they represent in the region. She pointed out that the women who participated in these formations made significant sacrifices to protect their communities and defend their rights.

The researcher and politician also touched upon similar historical experiences in some countries, including Eritrea, where women participated in military action alongside men during periods of liberation. However, she noted that this participation was not met with sufficient recognition after those phases ended, whether through their inclusion in state institutions or full acknowledgment of their roles. She considered these experiences to reflect a recurring pattern linked to the entrenchment of patriarchal structures in a number of political systems.

In discussing the Syrian reality, Naamat Koko argued that the future of women's participation is affected by the intertwining of what she termed "patriarchal and religious institutions" within political and military structures. This, she asserted, could impact the level of women's representation and their ability to reach decision-making positions.

She added that any political transition that fails to guarantee women's effective participation in policymaking and decision-making could undermine the gains achieved in recent years, particularly concerning the experience of women's organizations and their role in public life.

She also pointed out that integrating various armed groups into traditional military institutions without considering the unique experience of women could marginalize the role of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ). She argued that the absence of women from decision-making positions within these structures would limit the possibility of bringing about genuine change in military, social, and political culture.

In closing, Naamat Koko expressed her solidarity with the women fighters in the Autonomous Administration and the YPJ, emphasizing the importance of continuing to support and preserve this experience, as it is a fundamental pillar in protecting women's gains in Syria and the region.

She also called for keeping the issue of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) at the local and international levels by engaging with international organizations, particularly those concerned with women, peace, and security, and by working to amplify women's voices in relevant UN forums.

She concluded by emphasizing the importance of intensifying media efforts, both domestically and internationally, to highlight the role of women in Syria and to submit memoranda to international bodies involved in the Syrian crisis, to ensure the continuation of discussions about the future participation and role of women in any political process in Syria.