Our work at BACK TO LIFE in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Описание: The Yazidi genocide carried out by ISIS in 2014 had a devastating impact on the Yazidi community. At least 5,000 Yazidis were killed. Around 7,000 women and children were abducted and subjected to systematic sexual violence, slavery and abuse. The genocide has left deep psychological, cultural, and generational scars on the community and the majority of survivors continue to suffer from severe trauma due to the violence they experienced. The provision of support to survivors has remained a contentious issue, with adequate assistance often delayed or insufficient despite ongoing needs.

In response to the genocide, the Iraqi parliament passed the Yazidi Survivors Law (YSL) in March 2021. The law intends to provide reparative measures for survivors of crimes committed by ISIS in Iraq. The adoption of the law was largely driven by ‪@c4jrorg‬, an alliance of Iraqi NGOs (including HÁWAR.help) which advocates for and works towards comprehensive reparations for survivors of ISIS' crimes in Iraq.

The law mandates state-sponsored reparative measures ranging from financial compensation, medical and psychological assistance, educational services, provision of land or housing units and a quota in public sector employment. Furthermore, it mandates the search for those still in captivity, the exhumation of mass graves (including identification and return of remains), and memorialization. The YSL also calls on Iraqi institutions to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.

Over the past years, significant progress has been made in implementing the law. However, some issues remain unresolved, and the process continues to face various challenges.

As part of our BACK TO LIFE project in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, we support Yazidi survivors in asserting their reparations claims under the YSL. Our activities include giving legal advice to individuals and hosting regular roundtables that bring together organizations, local authorities, and survivors to discuss the challenges and solutions related to implementing the law.

Thank you to ‪@AuswaertigesAmtDE‬ for supporting BACK TO LIFE.

Footage: David Körzdörfer, BYNDC