Women's Protection Units

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Women's Protection Units
Yekîneyên Parastina Jin (YPJ)
YPJ Flag.svg
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

Syrian Civil War

Iraqi insurgency

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]

Members of the YPJ at Kobanî

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]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "PYD announces surprise interim government in Syria's Kurdish regions". Rudaw. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2014. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f "YPJ: The Kurdish feminists fighting Islamic State". The Week UK. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014. 
  3. ^ 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. 
  4. ^ "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. 
  5. ^ "Interview with YPJ Commander in Kobane and Mishtenur Hill". 17 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013. 
  6. ^ "Aleppo: New Group of YPG/YPJ Fighters Graduated from Training Course". YPG Rojava. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015. 
  7. ^ "These Remarkable Women Are Fighting ISIS. It's Time You Know Who They Are". Marie Claire. Retrieved 21 October 2014. 
  8. ^ "Female Kurdish fighters battling ISIS win Israeli hearts". Rudaw. Retrieved 8 March 2015. 
  9. ^ "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. 
  10. ^ "Fact 2015 (Uvda) – Israel’s leading investigative show". The Israeli Network. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015. 
  11. ^ "Kurdish female fighters named ‘most inspiring women’ of 2014". Rudaw. Retrieved 8 March 2015. 
  12. ^ "Kobani: How strategy, sacrifice and heroism of Kurdish female fighters beat Isis". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 8 March 2015.