YPJ (Women's Defense Units) General Command has issued a statement to mark International Women's Day, stressing that there can be no revolution and freedom without women.

Pointing out that the will and insistence of women worldwide has grown stronger owing to the resistance of women in Rojava, YPJ General Command said: "We are welcoming a new spring in the history of the peoples. 2015's spring has witnessed a major resistance being mounted and great prices being paid. With the unprecendendent resistance in Rojava, women broke the chains on their body, spirit and lands. In the ranks of the YPJ, women showed that they are the protector of the values of all the women across the world."

The statement by YPJ stressed that Kurdish women have manifested their power by resisting to the terrorist groups that spread fear with their barbarity, and against which no other power dared to stand. "Our brave comrades such as Arîn Mîrkan, Şîlan, Jiyan, Newal Viyan and Gulan have become a torch enlightening the path we are following. The spirit revealed in the person of YPJ fighters represents the greatest stance for the liberation of four parts of Kurdistan. Our struggle has been the best answer against all kinds of tendency for male-superiority to women, femicide, violence, rape and sexual abuse," YPJ said.

The YPJ statement emphasised that the line of defense formed by Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian fighters in YPJ ranks has become the nightmare of their enemies, adding; "As is also seen in the message conveyed to the world by Sinjar women who set their bodies on fire, no one can touch the sacred values of women. The Rojava Revolution has proved that a revolution without women is not possible."

Celebrating the 8 March of all the women and female fighters in the battle field, YPJ General Command also greeted Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan whose philosophy -it underlined- has enabled the women to enhance their level of freedom.

YPJ ended its statement by vowing to step up the struggle and to be worthy of the values and memories of the martyrs.