My name is Amal Rojava, and I am part of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). Today, we commemorate International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to honoring the struggle of women who fought to embody their will. Each year, we revive this day, remembering women who fought for their rights, equality in the workplace, an end to child labor, and the right to vote. On this day, recognized internationally as a day for women, we recall the horrific massacre of women in New York’s textile factories, leading to the deaths of over 140 workers, prompting the designation of International Women’s Day to recognize women’s rights globally and appreciate women’s efforts in building societies.
As members of the Women’s Protection Units, we remember each year the efforts of our fellow units who fight on all fronts and our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our homeland and women’s liberation from the injustices endured in past ages, particularly after the entry of ISIS into the region and the ongoing war fueled by capitalist interests, using women as commodities for propaganda. Today, as members of the Women’s Protection Units, and on the occasion of International Women’s Day, we congratulate all women worldwide.
As an Arab woman, I call upon all Arab women to explore their strengths, will, and freedom within themselves and to walk the path of freedom and democracy, finding their rightful place on the path of truth within the project of democratic nationhood founded on the ideology of Abdullah Ocalan. We also support the efforts of all women who have entered various fields, including politics, military, economy, and civil society.
As fighters in the Women’s Protection Units, we pledge to protect all women and defend them against injustice and exploitation.
YPJ Media Center
