Statement by the KRG Office of Coordinator for International Advocacy on the Ninth Annual Commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide

On 3 August 2023, the KRG Coordinator for International Advocacy Dr. Dindar Zebari marked the Yazidi genocide on the ninth annual commemoration of the Yazidi genocide.  The KRG Coordinator stated that this tragedy compels us to remember a challenging period in our history and to mark the resilience of the Yazidi people. The KRG Coordinator commemorated the victims of ISIS's genocide against the Yazidi people and underscored the imperative to recommit ourselves to seeking justice for the Yazidi community.  The number of Yazidis displaced in camps within the Kurdistan Region currently stands at 135,860 individuals. 

KRG Office of Coordinator for International Advocacy (OCIA) appreciates the United Nations for establishing UNITAD in 2017 to investigate and bring perpetrators of crimes committed by ISIS to justice. This historic action paved the way for a complete and evidence-based inquiry into ISIS's criminal activities in Iraq. OCIA values Christian Ritscher's commitment to this work and that of his entire team.

The atrocities committed against the Yazidi community were nothing short of unspeakable. Thousands of Yazidis were uprooted, captured, or slaughtered during ISIS's 2014 invasion of Sinjar. Many people took refuge atop Mount Sinjar, where they suffered for months from lack of food and water.  In the aftermath of the attack ‘no free Yazidis remained in the Sinjar region, the 400,000-strong community had all been displaced, captured, or killed’.

Since then, the KRG has been actively collecting evidence and advocating for the victims. To push for fair trials and worldwide recognition of the acts as genocide, the regional government formed the High Ministerial Committee to Recognise the Atrocities and acts Perpetrated by ISIL as Genocide. The KRG has also started working to free the kidnapped people and help them get back on their feet again. The governments of Germany and the United Kingdom have taken a significant step in the right direction by officially marking the horrors committed against the Yazidis as genocide. The survivors and the relatives of the victims can now use this acknowledgment as a starting point to pursue justice and restitution.

For there to be justice, ISIS militants must be brought to account for their roles in the country's war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The KRG has taken steps toward establishing a specialized criminal court for this purpose, and we seek the support and cooperation of international partners in this endeavor.

To further safeguard the protection of witnesses who come forward to testify against ISIS criminals, the Government of Iraq must create a specialized Witness Protection Department. The ongoing discussions with the KRG to establish a similar department are a testament to our commitment to enduring justice and accountability.

The KRG has made significant progress digitizing archives and preserving proof of ISIS crimes through close coordination with UNITAD. KRG has cooperated with UNITAD within the framework of NCC and succeeded to digitalize the archives of more than (100, 000) pages for these crimes. This critical endeavor guarantees that the truth will be held and those at fault will face justice.

The international community, human rights agencies, and humanitarian aid organizations deserve much credit for their tireless efforts to aid the Yazidi people, and they are recognized and appreciated here today. The KRG appreciates the efforts of Germany and the UK in providing aid and assistance to the IDPs in the Kurdistan Region and calls for continued partnership in resolving this humanitarian crisis. Finally, the KRG Coordinator commended the role of the Yazda organization in organizing this annual event. 

The KRG Coordinator emphasized the need to renew our dedication to achieving justice, accountability, and compensation for the Yazidi community as we mark the ninth annual anniversary of the Yazidi genocide. Together, we can work towards healing the wounds of the past and ensure a brighter and more just future for all.