Women's Protection Units
| Women's Protection Units | |
|---|---|
| Yekîneyên Parastina Jin (YPJ) | |
YPJ flag
|
|
| Active | 2012–present |
| Allegiance | Rojava, Syria[1] (Democratic Union Party) |
| Branch | Female service units |
| Type | Light infantry (militia) |
| Size | 7,000[2]–10,000[3] |
| Part of | Syrian Democratic Forces |
| Engagements | |
| Website | Official website |
| Commanders | |
| General Commander[4] | Nessrin Abdallah |
| Kobanî commander[5] | Meryem Kobanî |
| Aleppo commander [6] | Sewsen Bîrhat |
The Women's Protection Units or Women's Defense Units (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Parastina Jin) (YPJ) is a military organization that was set up in 2012 as the female brigade of the leftist People's Protection Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Gel, YPG) militia.[3] The YPJ and YPG are the armed wing of a Kurdish coalition that has taken de facto control over much of Syria's predominantly Kurdish north, Rojava.[3]
The organization grew out of the Kurdish resistance movement, and as of late 2014 it had over 7,000 (or 10,000, according to TeleSUR)[3] volunteer fighters between the ages of 18 and 40.[2] They receive no funding from the international community and rely on the local communities for supplies and food.[2]
The YPJ joined its brother organization, the YPG, in fighting against any groups that showed intentions of bringing the Syrian Civil War to Kurdish-inhabited areas. It has come under increased attacks from ISIS militants and was involved in the Siege of Kobanî.[2]
The group played a critical role in rescuing the thousands of Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar by IS fighters in August 2014. One fighter said: "We need to control the area ourselves without depending on [the government]... They can't protect us from [ISIS], we have to protect ourselves [and] we defend everyone ... no matter what race or religion they are."[7]
The group had been praised by feminists for "confront[ing] traditional gender expectations in the region" and "redefining the role of women in conflict in the region".[2] According to photographer Erin Trieb, "the YPJ is in itself a feminist movement, even if it is not their main mission". She asserted that "they want 'equality' between women and men, and a part of why they joined was to develop and advance the perceptions about women in their culture".[2]
Various Kurdish media agency indicate that "YPJ troops have become vital in the battle against I.S." in Kobanî.[3] YPJ achievements in Rojava have attracted considerable international attention as a rare example of strong female achievement in a region in which women are heavily repressed.[8][9][10][11][12]
See also[edit]
- Feminism
- Kurdish women
- Kurdistan
- Rojava Revolution
- Sinjar Protection Units
- Women in warfare and the military (2000–present)
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to YPJ. |
References[edit]
- ^ "PYD announces surprise interim government in Syria's Kurdish regions". Rudaw. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "YPJ: The Kurdish feminists fighting Islamic State". The Week UK. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Kurdish Women Turning Kobani into a Living 'Hell' for Islamic State". Telesurtv.net. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Syrian Kurds' morale high but arms needed, YPJ commander". http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2015/06/22/syrian-kurds-morale-high-but-arms-needed-ypj-commander_90972a99-8ba7-41a7-b002-be9f9ea141d8.html. ANSAMed.
- ^ "Interview with YPJ Commander in Kobane and Mishtenur Hill". 17 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Aleppo: New Group of YPG/YPJ Fighters Graduated from Training Course". YPG Rojava. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "These Remarkable Women Are Fighting ISIS. It's Time You Know Who They Are". Marie Claire. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Female Kurdish fighters battling ISIS win Israeli hearts". Rudaw. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "The Fight Against ISIS in Syria And Iraq December 2014 by Itai Anghel". The Israeli Network via YouTube. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Fact 2015 (Uvda) – Israel’s leading investigative show". The Israeli Network. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Kurdish female fighters named ‘most inspiring women’ of 2014". Rudaw. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Kobani: How strategy, sacrifice and heroism of Kurdish female fighters beat Isis". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 8 March 2015.