The Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) commemorated International Women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The venue of the ceremony was decorated with portraits of commanders and martyrs as well as the flags of the Women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, Nourouz Ahmed, a member of the General Command of the Women\u2019s Protection Units and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), delivered a speech in which she began by congratulating the \u201carchitect and creator of the free life,\u201d Abdullah Ocalan, as well as all freedom fighters and women around the world on the occasion of March 8.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ahmed also referred to the sacrifices of the fighters Deniz, S\u00eedar, Sh\u00eelan, \u00celan, and Z\u00eeyad, who stood with their bodies against this system. She affirmed that the women\u2019s movement will continue its struggle, particularly during this year, which the movement has declared under the slogan \u201cThe Time is the Time of Women,\u201d with the aim of making the current century the century of women\u2019s freedom. She further stressed that many women remain captive among mercenary groups, affirming that the struggle will continue until all captives are freed.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Following the speeches, participants chanted slogans including \u201cWoman, Life, Freedom\u201d and \u201cMartyrs Never Die.\u201d The General Command then distributed flowers to the women fighters participating in the ceremony.<\/p>\n
The ceremony concluded with the fighters heading to the grave of \u201cMartyr Dijwar\u201d in Al-Hasakah, where they placed flowers on the martyrs\u2019 graves in tribute to their sacrifices.<\/p>\n