Writer, activist from Somaliland : YPJ's effective model must be supported, developed

The writer and activist, Leyla Jamia’, from Somaliland, expressed in her message her appreciation and deep belief in the role played by the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) in both the military and community spheres, particularly at this sensitive stage that requires clarity of position and firmness of voice.

She emphasized that the experience of the YPJis not a passing detail, nor can it be confined within narrow descriptions or treated as a temporary phase. Rather, it represents a profound transformation in the structure of the role women play, and in their participation in shaping concepts of protection, organization, social and political engagement, and decision-making.

She stated: “You have moved from a position of being affected by conflicts to a position of action in redefining them. Your presence was not merely entry into a closed space, but a reconfiguration of that space from within and the opening of a new horizon for the meaning of power and responsibility.”

She criticized the transitional government’s refusal to recognize women’s presence within the structure of defense institutions, saying: “Today, amid ongoing transformations, a concerning stance emerges represented by the refusal of the transitional government to recognize women’s presence within the structure of defense institutions. This refusal, in whatever form it takes, does not merely reflect a political decision; it reveals an insistence on reproducing systems that exclude women and treat their role as an exception that can be dispensed with.”

She stressed: “You have proven that the presence of women in protection roles is not a marginal choice, but a real necessity and a model based on awareness, organization, and practical experience, and that what you have built cannot be erased or ignored, and must be preserved and developed.”

She also pointed out that transitional phases, as shown by many global experiences, often carry the risk of a decline in women’s roles after they have been in the front lines. Therefore, what is happening today is not merely a political challenge, but a real test of the ability of this reality to recognize what women have achieved.

She added that the discussion today is no longer centered on women’s right to play a role within societal institutions, but rather on the nature of that role and its effectiveness in reshaping these institutions from within, noting that the YPJ represents a practical model of this active presence.

She further stressed that what the units have achieved represents a genuine necessity for any future based on justice and stability.

In conclusion, Leyla announced her full support for the YPJ, and her commitment to launching campaigns and opening spaces for dialogue to defend women’s right to continue and participate within any future structure, and to reject their marginalization or the underestimation of their achievements.

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ANHA