The Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) commemorated International Women’s Day, March 8, with a solemn ceremony in the Hasakah region, attended by hundreds of women fighters and commanders of the units, alongside mothers of martyrs.
The venue of the ceremony was decorated with portraits of commanders and martyrs as well as the flags of the Women’s Protection Units. The event opened with a military parade symbolizing the significance of the occasion and highlighting the vital role of women in the struggle.
During the ceremony, Nourouz Ahmed, a member of the General Command of the Women’s Protection Units and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), delivered a speech in which she began by congratulating the “architect and creator of the free life,” Abdullah Ocalan, as well as all freedom fighters and women around the world on the occasion of March 8.
In her speech, Ahmed emphasized that since the earliest stages of life and humanity, women have been a fundamental pillar in building society. She noted that through their productivity and culture, women have contributed to creating a new life for humanity, and through their determination and creativity they laid the foundations of human civilization.
She added that authoritarian systems throughout history have sought to target and marginalize women, stressing that attacks against women are, in essence, attacks against society and life itself, aimed at imposing a single model upon the world.
Ahmed also referred to the sacrifices of the fighters Deniz, Sîdar, Shîlan, Îlan, and Zîyad, who stood with their bodies against this system. She affirmed that the women’s movement will continue its struggle, particularly during this year, which the movement has declared under the slogan “The Time is the Time of Women,” with the aim of making the current century the century of women’s freedom. She further stressed that many women remain captive among mercenary groups, affirming that the struggle will continue until all captives are freed.
In the conclusion of her speech, Ahmed called for strengthening the joint struggle for freedom and democracy, emphasizing that the struggle will not be limited to March 8, but will continue in every moment of life.
Following the speeches, participants chanted slogans including “Woman, Life, Freedom” and “Martyrs Never Die.” The General Command then distributed flowers to the women fighters participating in the ceremony.
The ceremony concluded with the fighters heading to the grave of “Martyr Dijwar” in Al-Hasakah, where they placed flowers on the martyrs’ graves in tribute to their sacrifices.
Media Center of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ)
