YPJ: Meeting with the Syrian Minister of Defense discussed the integration process

The Media Center of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) released a statement on the meeting with the Syrian Minister of Defense on Wednesday.

According to the statement, YPJ General Command held a meeting with the Syrian Minister of Defense, Murhaf Abu Qasra, following an official request submitted by the General Command. The meeting aimed to discuss the mechanisms and pathways for integrating the YPJ into the Ministry of Defense and the structure of the Syrian army, within the framework of completing the implementation of the January 29 agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The YPJ delegation included commanders Rohilat Efrîn and Sozdar Hacî, Xalîsa Ayêd, the commander of the Women’s Battalion in the Qamishlo Brigade, and Rûken Cemal, the director of the media office of the Units.

The statement on Thursday said: “The meeting addressed the organizational and legal aspects related to the integration process, in addition to ongoing discussions concerning the role of women in the new Syrian army. The Minister expressed flexibility and willingness to continue dialogue regarding practical frameworks that would enable women’s participation within the military institution.”

The meeting follows a series of international and local engagements conducted by the General Command of the Units to discuss the future of women’s participation in security and military institutions.

At the conclusion of the meeting, and on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of the YPJ, a request was made for the release of detained female and male fighters.