ESMAA FATHÎ

Cairo- Members of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ) have broken the gender-based taboos and gender stereotypes not only in northeastern Syria but all over the world. Many women’s organizations and women have been inspired by the struggle of the YPJ women. Egyptian feminist activists say the YPJ was formed by women to defend themselves and their people.

“It was formed as a reaction to violence”

Fadia Kiwan, Director General of the Arab Women Organization, said that the YPJ reflects the reality of women protecting themselves from all forms of violence. “The phenomenon of systematic violence against women is used in all conflicts in many countries, including some Arab countries. The YPJ was formed as a reaction to violence against women in NE Syria,” Fadia Kiwan said that the fight of the YPJ reminds her of what happened during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. “Egyptian women faced violence during the protests. Women were targeted in the protests. But Egyptian women, girls, and young men formed committees in neighborhoods committee to protect women.”

“YPJ was formed against violence”

Asma Ramzy, the official in charge of monitoring and documentation at the Women's Centre for Guidance and Legal Awareness (WCGLA), told us that the YPJ protects women in every sense, “The YPJ was formed in NE Syria to protect women against the systematic violence committed by ISIS mercenaries and other armed factions. The members of the YPJ have broken the gender-based taboos and gender stereotypes not only in northeastern Syria but all over the world. They have taken up guns to protect themselves and other women.”

 Noura Muhammad, project director at the New Woman Foundation (NWF), thinks the experience of the YPJ members is very important. “Women have paid the heaviest price of the Syrian crisis and the attacks of ISIS. For this reason, they formed their self-defense units to protect themselves.”