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Date: June 12, 2025 - In a compelling address before the UN Security Council on 10 June, Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan, Special Representative of the Secretary‑General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), issued a strong call for justice, protection, and dignity for the Yazidi people, more than a decade after the genocide in Sinjar. “We believe it is essential to end this injustice against the indigenous Iraqi Yazidi people and to ensure their return to their homes and areas with dignity and honor.” In a pointed appeal to the international community and regional stakeholders, Dr. Al Hassan stated: “I say it loudly that the Yazidis in Iraq have suffered immensely beyond description at the hands of ISIS, and we in the United Nations, through you and your support, call on those concerned in Iraq and the [neighboring countries] to take all necessary measures to protect this community and restore their dignity, respect, appreciation and rightful humanitarian standing.” He emphasized that any return process must go beyond relocation alone: “The return process cannot just be physical relocation. It needs to be a meaningful process that rebuilds lives, livelihoods, and hope for the future.” More than 100,000 Yazidis remain displaced across Iraq, many still living in camps or informal settlements. While recent developments, including the issuance of over 1,300 land ownership letters and nearly 100 title deeds, represent important progress, Dr. Al Hassan warned that: “Sustainable conditions for return require more coherent political, administrative and security measures… in addition to significant investment in job creation and local services.” His remarks follow a high-level meeting held on 29 May in Baghdad, where Yazda’s Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov, and members of the Yazda team met with Dr. Al Hassan to brief him on the continued displacement, insecurity, and urgent needs of the Yazidi community. The priorities raised during that meeting, including durable solutions for return, justice for survivors, and long-term international support, were clearly echoed in Dr. Al Hassan’s remarks. “To this day, a number of Yazidi men and women remain in a state of near‑forced captivity after Da’esh ravaged their lives, Iraq, and the region as a whole. The Yazidis in Iraq have suffered immensely beyond description at the hands of ISIS.” As UNAMI enters its final months, with operations scheduled to conclude by 31 December 2025 following Security Council resolution 2732, Dr. Al Hassan stressed the importance of sustaining the UN’s engagement on human rights and minority issues: “The United Nations is ready to continue supporting these and other human rights initiatives and engage with the Government of Iraq… in exploring options for continuing such support after UNAMI’s departure.” Yazda welcomes Dr. Al Hassan’s unequivocal recognition of the Yazidi community’s struggle and his call for lasting solutions grounded in dignity and justice. As Iraq transitions beyond the UNAMI mandate, Yazda emphasizes that support for Yazidis and other minority communities must remain a priority through transitional justice, inclusion, and coordinated national recovery. “Iraq is a nation of profound history, strength, potential, and pride. By working together, Iraqis can continue to make meaningful strides towards stability, prosperity, and human rights for all,” Dr. Al Hassan concluded. Yazda remains committed to working with the United Nations, the Government of Iraq, and international partners to ensure that Yazidi voices are heard, survivors are supported, and justice is not only promised but delivered. -END- Download this press release here . Read this Press Release in Arabic here . ### For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Date: 2 June 2025 Baghdad, Iraq – In a significant step toward truth, accountability, and healing, Yazda signed a Cooperation Agreement on 29 May 2025 with the Martyrs Foundation’s Department for the Protection of Mass Graves and Missing Persons, and the Medico-Legal Directorate (MLD) of Iraq’s Ministry of Health. Grounded in Article 14 of Iraq’s Mass Graves Protection Law (Law No. 5 of 2006, as amended by Law No. 13 of 2015), the agreement reflects a shared commitment to preserving the memory of Yazidi victims, supporting the rights of their families, and ensuring that the atrocities they endured are never forgotten and never allowed to happen again. The event brought together representatives from the three institutions for a roundtable discussion on the challenges, progress, and shared goals in advancing a survivor-centered and culturally sensitive approach to the exhumation of mass graves, identification of remains, and dignified burials in Iraq. The agreement formalizes this spirit of collaboration, setting out how the three entities will work in partnership to uphold the dignity of victims and ensure that families and survivors are never forgotten. As part of the agreement, the parties will jointly work to: Exhume, identify and return Yazidi victims’ remains in a dignified and trauma-informed manner. Organize blood sample collection campaigns from families of the missing, inside and outside Iraq. Develop and disseminate outreach materials to raise awareness of the exhumation and identification process. Support burials, provide psychological assistance, and build memorialization initiatives. Deliver joint trainings and documentation efforts to strengthen institutional capacity. Promote survivor engagement and support access to national reparations mechanisms. Natia Navrouzov, Yazda Executive Director commented: “The signing of this agreement marks a historic moment for Yazda and the Yazidi community. The work of the Mass Graves Directorate and the Medico-Legal Directorate has not only been central to exposing ISIL’s crimes and advancing justice, but it has also been the most visible and tangible sign to our community that justice is possible. Since March 2019, we have worked side by side, and this agreement formalizes the trust and mutual respect that have grown between us. To deliver justice to families of the missing, this work must be backed by political will, financial resources, and technical support. Over 2,600 Yazidis are still missing, and the search for truth must extend beyond Iraq’s borders, particularly to Syria and Turkey, where many were last seen. This work must be survivor-led, internationally supported, and rooted in dignity.” Mr. Diaa Karim , Director of the Mass Graves and Missing Persons Directorate commented: “The cooperation agreement signed with the Yazda international organization represents a significant step in strengthening collaboration between the Yazidi civil society organizations and the relevant sectoral entities involved in the issue of mass graves and missing persons. This agreement contributes effectively to coordinating efforts aimed at locating undiscovered mass graves and taking the necessary measures to preserve them. It also supports the families of the missing by facilitating communication with the specialized national teams and by considering the psychological needs of the victims’ families”. Furthermore, the agreement provides a legal framework that enables the provision of essential logistical support to the national teams working on this critical humanitarian issue. Dr. Zaid Ali Abass , Director of the Medico-Legal Department commented: “We are confident that this agreement with Yazda will have a positive impact on the families of the missing persons and will raise expectations for finding their loved ones both inside and outside Iraq. As a result, our aspirations have grown, and our communication with the families of victims and the missing persons has become more comprehensive and effective”. This collaboration represents a vital step in Iraq’s journey toward justice and memory and Yazda stands ready to continue supporting survivors and national institutions in this shared mission. -END- Download this press release here . Read this Press Release in Arabic here . ### For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Date: 29 May, 2025 Paris, May 2025 - In a landmark decision, France’s Cour de cassation has ruled on May 7, 2025, to reinstate the possibility of genocide charges against Sonia Mejri, a French national affiliated with ISIL, in relation to crimes committed against a Yazidi victim. The ruling overturns part of a January 22, 2025, decision by the Chambre de l’instruction which had previously annulled the genocide charge. The case will now be referred back to a newly constituted Chambre de l’instruction for re-examination of the accusation for genocide. Sonia Mejri is accused of committing crimes against a Yazidi adolescent girl who was held captive in Syria in the house of Sonia Mejri and her ISIL-affiliated husband in 2015 where she was enslaved and subjected to violence and abuse. The survivor was targeted for her Yazidi identity as part of the genocide committed by ISIL against this minority community and as part of the system of organized slave trade. In its ruling, the Cour de cassation held that an individual may be prosecuted for genocide even when the acts are committed against a single member of a group, provided the group was targeted as part of a coordinated plan aimed at its total or partial destruction. This position contrasts with the interpretation of the Paris Court of Appeal, which had argued that multiple victims were required for such a charge. This interpretation aligns with the jurisprudence of international courts and tribunals on the prosecution of genocide and is a great advancement against impunity in France, ensuring that perpetrators will be held accountable for the commission of international crimes. Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda commented: “This ruling is a historic moment for Yazidi survivors and a powerful affirmation that justice systems in Europe can and must rise to the challenge of prosecuting genocide. For years, Yazidi women and girls have bravely testified to the crimes they endured, and today, France’s highest court has confirmed that targeting even one victim with the intent to destroy an entire community can constitute genocide. We commend the Cour de cassation for aligning with international law and urge French authorities to move forward swiftly and decisively. Survivors deserve nothing less.” The new chambre will only now decide if, in addition to criminal association with terrorist intent (“association de malfaiteurs terroriste”) and complicity of crime against humanity, Sonia Mejri will also face trial for complicity of genocide. -END- Download this press release here . Read this Press Release in Arabic here. ### For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Date: 23 May 2025 Munich, Germany — May 23, 2025 — The Higher Regional Court of Munich has opened a trial against Asia R.A. and Twana S., a couple accused of being members of the so-called Islamic State (ISIL) and participating in the enslavement, torture, and sexual abuse of two Yazidi girls, aged five and twelve. The charges include crimes against humanity, war crimes, human trafficking, and genocide, based on acts committed between 2015 and 2017 in Mosul, Iraq, and Deir ez-Zor, Syria. The case is being prosecuted under Germany’s universal jurisdiction laws, which allow national courts to try international crimes committed abroad. It is the 10th trial in Germany addressing ISIL atrocities against Yazidis (previous cases were against Jennifer W. , Taha al-Jumailly , Leonora M. , Jalda A., Nadine K. , Sarah O ., Nurten J. , Omaima A. , Romiena S. ). According to the charges, Twana S., was born in 1981 and is from Kurdistan Region’s Halabja province. He arrived in Germany in the early 2000s, later became radicalized in a Salafist Mosque and joined ISIL. He met Asia R.A., a Kurd from Iraq’s Hawija town in Kirkuk province, in ISIL-controlled territory, where they married and had two children. The couple returned to Germany in 2018 and settled in Bavaria before separating. Twana S. was previously convicted in Germany for ISIL membership and receiving combat training. In April 2024, the couple was arrested in the cities of Rot and Regensburg after new allegations emerged relating to the enslavement and abuse of Yazidi children. The first survivor was five years old when she was purchased in 2015 from a slave market in Mosul. Prosecutors allege she was forced to work as a domestic servant, beaten, humiliated, denied freedom of movement, and scalded with boiling water. She was also exposed to religious teachings. Her location is currently unknown. The second survivor was twelve when she was purchased by the couple in 2017 from a military base in Deir ez-Zor. According to prosecutors, she was repeatedly raped and abused. In one incident detailed in the indictment, Asia R.A. instructed her to bathe, dress up, and wear makeup before sending her to Twana S., who tied her up and raped her. She was later freed in 2018 after her family paid a ransom of approximately $12,000 USD. She is expected to testify during the trial. The acts are alleged to have been committed with the intent to destroy the Yazidi community in whole or in part, grounds for the genocide charge under international criminal law. The opening of the Munich trial against two alleged ISIL members for crimes against Yazidi children comes at a critical moment. As Europe marks the EU Day Against Impunity on 23 May, this case stands as a powerful reminder of the continent's role in advancing justice beyond its borders. Germany’s use of universal jurisdiction to prosecute genocide and crimes against humanity reflects the EU’s core commitment to accountability. This trial also follows the conviction of Hasna A . in the Netherlands and of Lina I. in Sweden. Together, these cases signal a growing momentum across Europe to ensure that ISIL’s crimes do not go unpunished. Yet in the absence of a comprehensive international justice effort, and following the closure of UNITAD , the path to accountability remains fragmented. There is still no clear plan in Iraq to address core international crimes, and with a new regime in Syria, the future of transitional justice for ISIL crimes committed there remains uncertain. Justice today is not only about redressing past atrocities but essential to preventing future ones. -END- Download this press release here . Read this Press Release in Arabic here. ### For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Date: 17 May 2025 Baghdad, Iraq — May 17, 2025 – As Iraq hosts the 34th Arab League Summit, Yazda is calling on Arab leaders to place justice, accountability, and the protection of minority rights at the center of their regional agenda. The organization emphasizes that coordinated, cross-border action is essential to address the crimes committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and to support the recovery of survivors. For over a decade, Yazidis and other minority groups have endured grave atrocities at the hands of ISIL. Iraq has made important steps toward justice, including the passage of the Yazidi Survivors Law, the exhumation of mass graves, and the return of remains to the families of victims. Although these efforts are still ongoing and incomplete, they represent critical progress in transitional justice and offer valuable lessons for neighboring countries, especially Syria, as it emerges from conflict. However, significant gaps remain. Thousands of Yazidis are still missing—many of them women and children abducted by ISIL and trafficked across borders into Syria and Turkey. Because ISIL’s crimes transcended national borders, achieving justice requires regional coordination and collective action. Yazda urges the Arab League and its member states to take the following steps as part of a unified response to ISIL crimes: Establish a joint Iraqi Syrian mechanism , with Arab League and international support, to locate and rescue missing Yazidis and other victims, in coordination with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). Ensure Yazidi representation in all transitional justice discussions related to Syria, facilitated through cross-border cooperation. Support coordinated prosecutions of ISIL members across the region, with harmonized legal frameworks and shared evidence for crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Adopt and implement minority rights protections across the Arab world to prevent future atrocities. Formally recognize the Yazidi genocide in Syria and commit to inclusive, survivor-centered recovery and reparations efforts. Justice must not stop at national borders. Regional coordination, survivor participation, and international solidarity are essential to uncover the truth and restore dignity to those who suffered ISIL’s brutal crimes. The Arab League has a responsibility to act. Justice, accountability, and non-repetition must become a shared regional mission rooted in cooperation, backed by law, and led by the voices of survivors. Yazda stands ready to work with regional and international partners to rescue those still missing, uphold survivors' rights, and build a future grounded in dignity, accountability, and peace. -END- Download this press release here . Read this Press Release in Arabic here . ### For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Yazda Commends the Exhumation of 13 Yazidi Mass Graves and Kill Sites in Sinjar by Iraqi Authorities

Yazda’s Statement on International Women’s Rights Day: Advancing Economic Justice for Women and Girls in Iraq

Baghdad, 12 February 2025 Yazda's Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov, met with Judge Ali Hussein Jafat, President of the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC), and his team to discuss pathways toward justice and accountability for ISIL crimes in Iraq. Hasan Jamil Khalid from the Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR), the meeting’s organizer, was present as well as William Warda from Hammurabi Human Rights Organization and Yazda's Head of Programs, Zoe Paris. The NCIJC was established under the Iraqi High Judiciary following the closure of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) in September 2024. The center’s mandate is to continue UNITAD’s work, focusing on delivering justice and accountability for crimes perpetrated by ISIL. This meeting marked the NCIJC’s inaugural engagement with civil society organizations (CSOs) in Iraq. All participants underscored the importance of building robust partnerships between the center and CSOs to ensure the justice process in Iraq remains survivor-centered and transparent. During the discussions, Yazda’s Executive Director raised several critical points: ● Pursuit of Justice Post-UNITAD Closure: Despite UNITAD’s departure, affected communities maintain hope for justice regarding international crimes committed in Iraq. Natia Navrouzov emphasized that Iraq must take the first step by passing legislation to criminalize core international crimes (war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity). In response, Judge Ali Hussein Jafat noted that until such a law is adopted, prosecutions for international crimes will proceed using Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005 alongside provision 7 of the Yazidi Survivors Law. ● Ensuring Survivor Safety and Informed Consent: The center must guarantee the safe participation of survivors in judicial processes, including the full implementation of witness protection measures. Survivor testimonies must be handled with the utmost care and confidentiality, shared only with their informed consent. ● Concerns Over the General Amnesty Law: The Yazidi community expressed significant concern about the potential implications of the general amnesty law, fearing it could lead to the release of ISIL members currently imprisoned in Iraq. The Supreme Judicial Council has the next day issued a statement addressing these concerns and providing clarification on scope of the amnesty law which can be accessed here: Supreme Judicial Court Statement . Yazda remains committed to continued engagement with the NCIJC to ensure that avenues for prosecuting international crimes and securing justice for ISIL survivors are firmly established and upheld in Iraq. -END- Read this Press Release in Arabic here . For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

11 December 2024 Today, the international crimes division of the District Court of The Hague handed down the verdict in the Hasna A. case . It is the first trial in the Netherlands in which a member of the so-called Islamic State in Syria and the Levant (ISIL, also referred to as ISIS, IS, or by its Arabic acronym Daesh) has been convicted for crime committed against Yazidis. Hasna A., a Dutch national, travelled to Syria in 2015 with her four-year-old son, married an ISIL-member and lived in the ISIL-controlled city of Raqqa. She was tried for charges related to membership of ISIL, a terrorist group, as well as for endangering her son by bringing him with her to Syria and keeping him there. Importantly, Hasna A. also stood trial for the use of two Yazidi women as domestic slaves. The Yazidi women –referred to throughout the criminal proceedings only as ‘Z.’ and ‘S.’— had been enslaved by ISIL in August 2014. They were enslaved and kept in several houses where Hasna A. stayed whilst living in Raqqa in 2015 (Z.) and 2016 (S.), and Hasna A. forced them to perform domestic chores. Hasna A. also forced Z. to look after her four-year-old son. The slavery charges were brought against Hasna A. as crimes against humanity. Hasna A. is one of twelve Dutch women who had been repatriated from detention camps in Northern Syria at the end of 2022. She was arrested upon arrival in the Netherlands and taken into pretrial detention, appearing before the Trial Panel every three months. The Trial Panel had referred the case to the investigating judge and further investigation took place into the charges, which included hearing both Yazidi women as witnesses in 2024. The substantive hearings in the criminal proceedings against Hasna A. took place before the Trial Panel on 14, 16 and 17 October 2024. In today’s verdict, the court sentenced Hasna A. to a 10-year prison sentence for four offences: enslaving Z. in Syria in 2015, membership to the terrorist organization ISIL, promoting terrorist crimes and endangering her minor son. The court held that the enslavement of Z. amounted to a crime against humanity. The sentence is higher than the demand of the public prosecutor, who had demanded a prison sentence of eight years. The slavery charges against S. were not proven and Hasna A. was acquitted in relation to this offence. The verdict is available in Dutch and an English translation will be available soon. The two Yazidi survivors Z. and S. who participated in the trial as victims (survivors), injured parties and witnesses to the facts were accompanied by Yazda and supported throughout the process with translation, mental health and awareness support. The arrest, prosecution and trial of Hasna A. sends a clear message that, like other countries applying similar universal jurisdiction principles, the Netherlands will not be a safe haven for ISIL perpetrators. With today’s conviction, the Netherlands becomes the second country in the world to convict an ISIL-member for international crimes committed against Yazidis, looking beyond terrorism. Z. commented : "Our dream has finally come true, and we’ve achieved the result we longed for. This woman, Hasna A., caused us immense harm, and now it’s time for justice to prevail. Holding individuals accountable for their actions is a vital part of the justice process." S. added: "Honestly, I’m truly relieved to see justice finally served. However, a 10-year prison sentence feels insufficient and will never fully compensate for the suffering we have endured.” The outcome of this trial would have also not been possible without their legal representatives, Brechtje Vossenberg and Barbara van Straaten from law firm Prakken d’Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers in Amsterdam (the Netherlands). Brechtje Vossenberg commented: “It is thanks to the bravery and resilience of women like Z. and S. that the court was able to hand this verdict down and convict Hasna A. for the international crime of slavery committed against Z. Despite the disappointment that the charges relating to S. were unfortunately not proven, the verdict still marks another milestone in the long road to justice for the Yazidi community. It is the first of its kind here in the Netherlands and an important signal that the international crimes committed against Yazidis will be prosecuted here whenever possible. My clients’ participation in this trial was crucial to the establishment of the truth and the measure of justice that was obtained here today. I take my hat off to them both.” The Dutch court took a groundbreaking approach by providing online access to the substantive hearing sessions in both Dutch and Kurdish Kurmanji. This allowed survivors abroad and those who were unable to attend the hearings in person, to follow remotely both the substantive hearings in October and the pronouncement of the judgement today. Yazda facilitated screenings of the trial in Duhok (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) and Sinjar (Federal Iraq) where most of the global Yazidi community members currently reside. Around 40 members of the Yazidi community, including family members of one of the witnesses in the case attended the events and were, for the first time in a decade, able to witness justice in action. Following the verdict, one participant commented: “We want ISIL criminals to face fair sentencing, and we hope other countries will follow the Netherlands’ example in prosecuting these criminals.” Another added: “Other trials should be accessible online, and survivors in those countries should be invited to attend.” This trial is another milestone in the quest for justice by ISIL survivors. It is also only the 10th conviction worldwide of an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis, a decade since the start of the genocide. Indeed, 9 convictions were handed down in Germany so far, including three for genocide. Recently, Sweden and France have initiated legal proceedings against alleged ISIL members for their involvement in crimes against Yazidis, signaling an important step in holding perpetrators accountable in a broader international context. However, the recent and abrupt closure of UNITAD on 17 September 2024 might jeopardize ongoing investigations and trials in third countries as the question of the accessibility of the evidence has still not been resolved. Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda commented: "We commend the Dutch authorities and everyone who supported this case. Witnessing survivors follow the livestream of the verdict today from our offices in Duhok and Sinjar was a powerful reminder of the purpose behind our work, as it is ultimately for them. We are deeply proud of Z. and S., whose courage in coming forward made this case possible. While we are immensely relieved that Hasna A. has been convicted for her crimes, we had hoped the slavery charges concerning S. would also be fully acknowledged." ### Read the Arabic press release here. Download this English press release here. For media inquiries, please contact: Tonny Omondi Media and Communications Coordinator e: tonny.omondi@yazda.org About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.