I know I personally experienced the trauma and abuse, but Dr. Mukwege has lived with this for many years, treating women of sexual violence almost on daily bases. My dear friend Dr. Mukwege well deserved this recognition. Proud to be your co-winner! We will continue the fight.
After weeks of investigation, I am extremely heartened to report that we have rescued six more Yazidi women who were taken captive by ISIS.
The women were still children and teenagers when they were first taken captive in 2014. Trafficked out of Iraq and onto Syria, they were…
In 2014, ISIS took the life of my beloved mother. For 6 long years, I & other survivors were denied the right to bury our loved ones with dignity. Today, I am overwhelmed with emotion as the mass grave where she lays beside other Yazidi women is finally exhumed.
My niece, Katherine and I, along with thousands of Yazidi women and girls, were taken into captivity by ISIS in 2014.
When she was separated from me in Mosul, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her.
Katherine and other women were held captive by Aslam Taha Al Ubaidi, an…
The first group of Yazidi women & children arrived in Paris tonight. We are grateful to
@EmmanuelMacron
and the French people for welcoming members of the Yazidi community from Iraq.
After 6 years, I was able to bury the remains of 2 of my brothers. My community of Kocho was able to lay over 100 of our loved ones to rest. This is just the beginning of justice for Yazidis. Thousands of families still wait for the identification & burial of their loved ones.
Today marks the 5th anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide. Thousands of innocent Yazidis were killed & thousands were taken into slavery, 3000 remain missing. We lost everything, but we never gave up. Yazidis are stronger than the evil ideology of ISIS that wanted to destroy us.
Turkish-backed militias are silently carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Yazidis in Afrin, Syria. They are kidnapping women, killing civilians, & destroying houses & shrines. To date, the international community has failed to bring attention to these crimes.
I know what happens when the world loses sight of women & girls in crises. When it looks away, war is waged on women’s bodies. This must not happen in
#Afghanistan
. The international community must act so that the Taliban doesn't continue to rob women of their rights & freedoms.
Yesterday was a special day for
@AbidShamdeen
& I. We are very thankful and humbled for all the wishes & support from our family & friends. The struggle of our people brought us together & we will continue this path together. Thank you for your support everyone!
Today we grieve for all those we have lost and and mourn the life we once knew. I will continue to fight for survivors, advocate for justice and work to heal our homeland.
#YazidiGenocide
I am honored to speak to
#G7
leaders today about the plight of
#Yazidi
women and the need for global gender equality. Yazidi women deserve justice. 5 years after ISIS’s genocidal campaign, thousands of Yazidi women and girls are still missing.
#G7Biarritz
Today is International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. 6 years after ISIS' genocide against the Yazidi people, thousands of Yazidi women & girls are still missing in captivity. We must not abandon them. We must work to support & protect survivors globally.
Today, my community buried 41 Yazidi victims (26 men & 15 women) of the Kocho massacre. My heart is with all families who will finally be able to honor their loved ones. Yet, thousands of families still wait to bury relatives, which is why we must push for expedited exhumations.
Returning to my home & introducing my friend Angelina Jolie - a dedicated advocate for women, children & refugees - to my fellow survivors was a moving experience. I am honored to show her the strength of the Yazidi people & share our story of survival:
It’s impossible to walk alone as an advocate. You need strong, passionate allies who can add their own powerful voices to your own. This week, in the world famous Maracana Stadium I had the pleasure of meeting with
@MarceloM12
. We talked about the importance of role-model…
I strongly condemn the
#Turkish
invasion of northeast
#Syria
and urge an end to all acts of aggression. The lives of the innocent civilians in the region are once again under threat and
#ISIS
fighters in custody are likely to escape and nerve face justice.
Another Yazidi temple was rebuilt in the town of Bahzani, this temple and many others were destroyed by ISIS. We will continue to rebuild what ISIS destroyed. It’s time to help Yazidis and other communities in Iraq to rebuild their homes and their lives.
Today marks the 6th Anniversary of the
#KochoMassacre
. Six years have passed since my mother, brothers, & nieces were taken from me. Six years have passed since my village faced rampant violence and destruction. Six years have passed and survivors are still awaiting justice.
Today, on the Int’l Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, we must admit that we as a world failed to rescue Yazidi women & girls from ISIS slavery. No special task force by our gov or the international community was formed to rescue thousands from slavery.
I thank
@Pontifex
for welcoming me to the Vatican once again. We discussed the importance of support for
#Yazidis
& other minority communities in Iraq. In light of the heart-wrenching events in
#Afghanistan
, we exchanged ideas on championing women & survivors of sexual violence.
The Hazara community is under attack in Afghanistan. I know from experience that these tell-tale signs of discrimination, targeted killings, and displacement transform into mass atrocities in the blink of an eye.
Today, the Yazidi community lost a beacon of light with the passing Baba Sheikh. The Yazidi spiritual leader embodied our values of wisdom, kindness & tolerance. He led the community by example & treated Yazidi survivors with love & respect. He will be forever missed.
The right to bodily autonomy includes the choice of how to dress. No one has the right to abuse women - whether in war or walking down the street with covered or uncovered hair. I demand justice for
#MahsaAmini
and stand with Iranian women fighting for their rights and freedom.
Today, ISIS member Taha AJ was convicted of genocide and sentenced to life in prison. This is the first genocide verdict against an ISIS member. This verdict is a win for survivors of genocide, survivors of sexual violence, & the Yazidi community.
Mount Sinjar is a war zone right now. Turkish fighter jets are bombing multiple locations. Over 150 Yazidi families had just returned to their homes. When will
@IraqiGovt
& the international community apply some courage & political will to resolving security challenges in Sinjar?
My heart breaks for the next generation of girls & women whose nation has been overtaken by the Taliban. Kabul fell on the same day my village fell to ISIS 7 years ago. The international community must address the repercussions before tragedy is repeated.
Thursday I’ll be speaking with
@Trevornoah
about about my work to fight for human rights, end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, and honor survivors on the 6th anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide. Tune in to
@TheDailyShow
Thursday at 11pm EST.
Congratulations to President,
@EmmanuelMacron
on your re-election! I look forward to continuing to fight alongside you to empower women & marginalized communities like the Yazidis. I know your commitment to safeguarding human rights will make France & the world a better place.
Honored to meet PM
@MarinSanna
. We spoke about the situation of Yazidis & empowering survivors in post-conflict settings. I greatly admire the work she & her government are doing. I look forward to our collaboration to improve gender equality & promote women’s rights globally.
Gone, but never forgotten. We opened the Yazidi Genocide Memorial in
#Solagh
#Sinjar
. Having a place to grieve, particularly for those who could never bury their loved ones, is incredibly important. It is one step on the road to justice, but we have many more to go.
It was a…
Today, I met w/German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the status of the Yazidis & ask for German support for the protection and reconstruction of areas destroyed by ISIS, in Sinjar/Nineveh Plain. We also discussed the necessity of accepting asylum applications for Yazidis.
Tomorrow is 4th anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide. Thousands of Yazidis remain in captivity, More than 350,000 remain in IDP camps, Our mass graves r un-examined & evidence disappears everyday, our homeland is not de-mined nor its rebuilt & Main roads to Sinjar r being blocked.
It is an honor to work side by side with President
@EmmanuelMacron
to defend women’s rights around the world. It was incredibly meaningful to travel together through my home country, Iraq, and discuss ways to stabilize Sinjar and support Yazidi survivors.
Protéger les femmes est un combat. Nous le portons ensemble
@NadiaMuradBasee
. Comme au G7 de Biarritz ou au Forum
#G
énérationÉgalité à Paris. Au moment de nous retrouver ici, en Irak, et demain aux côtés de vos sœurs kurdes, yézidies, je redis avec force : nous ne lâcherons rien.
Thank you President
@EmmanuelMacron
for the opportunity to address the
@G7
leaders on gender equality this past weekend. It's time global leaders fight for the effective implementation of laws that promote gender equality.
#G7Biarritz
.
Monitoring the situation is not enough. The international community has a duty to act under the Genocide Convention. We cannot continue this pattern of inaction.
#StopHazaraGeoncide
Today is the anniversary of the Kocho massacre; the day my mother & brothers were murdered; the day my sisters & I were taken captive. Today is the anniversary of the day no one would protect us; the day “never again” was shattered; the day terrorism trampled international law.
Today is the anniversary of the massacre committed against my village of Kocho. Today Turkey carried several air strikes in different locations in Sinjar. Sinjar continues to be a war zone. How can Yazidis recover from this genocide or go back home!
I am grateful to
@olena_zelenska
for inviting me to meet my sister survivors in
#Ukraine
. It’s thought that thousands of women and girls have endured the unspeakable horrors of sexual violence during this conflict. I pray that their country's suffering ends quickly and they can…
Met w/minister
@MevlutCavusoglu
to dicuss the recent Turkish airstrikes in Sinjar. Turkey & Iraq must work together to find a solution to prevent any further bombings in Sinjar. We want to rebuild what ISIS destroyed & help Yazidis return home.
Congratulations to my brother
@KarimKhanQC
, the ICC’s newly elected prosecutor. As head of
@UNITAD
, Karim has been a fierce advocate of justice for the Yazidi people & he will no doubt continue to support marginalized communities by holding perpetrators accountable for atrocities
Today's passage of Iraq’s Yazidi Survivors Bill is an important first step in acknowledging the gender-based trauma of sexual violence & need for tangible redress. Implementation of the law will need to be focused comprehensively supporting & sustainably reintegrating survivors.
“It is unacceptable that human beings be persecuted and killed because of their religious affiliation! Every person has the right to freely profess his religious beliefs without constraints.” - Pope Francis
@Pontifex
@nadiainitiative
Today marks the commemoration of the 9-year anniversary since the massacre in my village, Kocho. Our community lost everything: families and friends, homes, and hope. We grieve for all that we have lost and continue to search for those who are still missing, while fighting for…
Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a senseless act of war. I know from experience who suffers the most from conflict, and it’s never the leaders who start it. My heart is with the mothers and daughters, fathers and sons whose homes, livelihoods, and communities are at stake.
I stand in solidarity with the people of France as they mourn today’s horrific attack in
#Nice
. No words can undo the loss of life, but with collective action against violence, we can show that justice, love, and unity will overcome hatred.🇫🇷
Turkish attack on
#Afrin
should stop now. I call on the
@UN
,
@StateDept
and
@mfa_russia
to intervene immediately and protect lives of so many innocent people. I call on all parties in
#Syria
to focus on
#ISIS
defeat and ensure they never return. 1/2
Thank you, Germany for formally recognizing the Yazidi genocide. Germany was one of the first active supporters of the Yazidi community. I hope their formal recognition inspires other countries to follow suit. Survivors deserve no less.
I would like to congratulate all Iraqis, Iraqi gov, and the whole world for end of ISIS control on cities and towns in Iraq. RIP to all those who gave their soul and salute to those who took up arms against this brutal group.
ISIS kill 7 and wound more than 15 people in an attack on Coptic Christian pilgrims in Egypt. My heartfelt condolences to their families and the people of Egypt. We must work together to end the targeting of ethnic and religious minorities across the Middle East and beyond.
My heart is with the city of Pittsburgh and the Tree of Life Congregation. Lives were needlessly taken today. We must stand united against hatred and the persecution of minorities. Freedom of religion is a human right.
I had a productive meeting with President
@EmmanuelMacron
today. I am grateful he has agreed to expand his partnership with Nadia’s Initiative to include the relocation of 100 survivors and continued support for the reconstruction of Sinjar and the Yazidi people.
Why do ISIS criminals still walk free while my sisters-in-law & nephew are held captive? After seven years, the Yazidi Community deserves justice & support to recover from ISIS’ genocide. Read more about the genocide’s 7th anniversary here.
Wishing a happy & healthy Eda Rojiet Ezi to Yazidis celebrating everywhere. Although we may be separated by social distancing, our resilience, strength & spirit will always unite us as a community. It is my hope that all will be able to enjoy this holiday season in safety.
Thank you to Germany for setting an important precedent in accountability by being the first country to try
#ISIS
perpetrators for their crimes against
#Yazidis
. I hope to see similar trials conducted in the rest of Europe, the US, & the rest of the world.
Today the British government formally acknowledges the ISIS attacks on my Yazidi community in 2014 was genocide. Thousands died, thousands more were enslaved and so many of us are displaced and traumatized. I hope this step by
@tariqahmadbt
and
@FCDOGovUK
brings us closer to…
#SexualViolence
isn't a side effect of conflict - it's a tactic of war. Yesterday, I joined the
#UNSC
Debate on Ending
#CRSV
. Ending
#CRSV
should be a global priority. It’s time for leaders to hold perpetrators accountable & halt cycles of violence: .
A virgin Sabiyya, 12 year old was up for sale. This is how they sold Yazidi girls, when we say they raped 12 year old girls people think we are making up these stories. IT’S STILL HAPPENING with more than 3000 Yazidi women & children in captivity in Syria.
#Yazidis
: one of the online resale groups called « The great mall of the Islamic state » where ISIL fighters could buy women or children had up to 754 members
#JusticeForYazidis
I’m very humbled to be w/such great women. Today I received 2018 Hillary Clinton Award for advancing Women in Peace and Security. Thank you
@HillaryClinton
Met with
#UNSG
@antonioguterres
to discuss searching for missing Yazidis, reconstructing
#Sinjar
& other affected areas, and providing public services to Yazidis whom have returned to their homes. 80% of Yazidi population in Iraq is still displaced living in dire conditions.
It was a pleasure to finally meet
@DUALIPA
in person. Dua is an inspiring young woman and I’m glad we got to share our stories with each other. I am honored to call you a friend and a supporter. Not only is your music incredible, but you are also an amazing human being.
I first spoke to
@NadiaMuradBasee
by zoom in February this year. After more virtual meetings, I felt so lucky to meet this incredible human being in person yesterday.
It was energizing to meet German FM
@ABaerbock
and discuss ways to encourage int'l prosecutions of ISIS members for genocide and sexual violence. As with all of Minister Baerbock’s policies, justice and support for
#CRSV
survivors requires a survivor-centric approach.
After facing genocide & 6 years of displacement, hundreds of Yazidi families have returned to Sinjar. More are expected to return in the coming weeks. It is vital that humanitarian organizations in the region support these families to facilitate their safe & dignified return.
Just this past month, hundreds of displaced Yazidi families have returned home to Sinjar, Iraq after six years of displacement. Yazidis need basic services like clean water, healthcare, and education to rebuild their lives. It has never been more crucial to invest in Sinjar.
After years of displacement, recent returnees are once again forced to flee their homes due to current armed clashes in Sinjar. I call on the international community to intervene & work with the Iraqi government to resolve the region's ongoing security issues & protect civilians.
Yesterday was the 6 year anniversary of the
#speichermassacre
when ISIS killed over a thousand Iraqi army cadets. May we remember the victims & honor their memory by investigating the crimes of ISIS, collecting evidence, & holding the perpetrators accountable.
Establishing
@UNITAD_Iraq
was the first step towards justice for genocide survivors. For the
#UN
Security Council to withdraw their support when the job is not finished and
#survivors
are waiting for justice is morally wrong.
#AmalClooney
and I implored
@antonioguterres
to raise…
International Women’s Day should not only be a day to celebrate women but also to take action & end violence against women in many parts of the world. Many Yazidi women and girls taken by ISIS in 2014 are still being held as sex slaves in Syria. We have failed to rescue them.
1/4 - The death of
#alBaghdadi
is welcoming news for the world, especially for those communities that were targeted by
#ISIS
. Baghdadi died as he lived – a coward using children as a shield. Let today be the beginning of the global fight to bring ISIS to justice.
Remembering the morning of Aug 3rd, how we were left alone in the hands of the most brutal terrorist group. That morning thousands of Yazidis were murdered by ISIS including many disabled and elderly whom were not able to make it to Mount Sinjar.
Happy birthday, Dr.
@DenisMukwege
You are a true inspiration to me and all the survivors around the world.
Thank you for your selfless dedication to making the world a better place for victims of
#sexualviolence
.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister
@MAKadhimi
. We discussed the vital need to enable the return of still displaced Yazidis, rehabilitate Sinjar, provide justice to Yazidi survivors, and rescue those still missing in ISIS captivity.
Great meeting with US
@VP
&
@IvankaTrump
. Nadia reiterated previous request for the US to provide financial resources to help the Yazidi community in Iraq. VP Pence assured Nadia that the US is committed to being a full partner with the Yazidi community.
Al Baghdadi’s wives and other ISIS women are not victims they must be held accountable for their crimes. Based on the testimonies of thousands of Yazidi women and girls who were taken into sexual slavery and the overwhelming evidence collected by UNITAD, ISIS built its…
The escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh is unacceptable & third party actors are exacerbating instability. The cost of conflict is the displacement & suffering of civilians. A new refugee crisis is unfolding before our eyes as thousands of Armenians are forced to flee.
▶️ Thousands of Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh, over the weekend, as Azerbaijanian forces advance in the region.
👉 Armenia Denies Claim Azerbaijan Captured Key City in Nagorno-Karabakh
Vice President Pence highlighted the Yazidi case and this ongoing genocide against Yazidis in his remarks @
#IRFministerial
advance religious freedom . I would like to thank
@VP
@SecPompeo
for confirming their commitment to help Yazidis & minorities.
“I would like to congratulate Nechirvan Barzani on his election as President of the Kurdistan Region. I look forward to working closely with him on issues related to the Yazidi community.”
@PMBarzani