Yazda is a global Yazidi organization established in August 2014 by Yazidi students and professionals in the USA and Europe, with the aim of supporting the Yazidi community following the genocidal campaign against Yazidis by the so-called Islamic State (referred to in this report as “IS”).

IS’s campaign sought to eradicate not only the Yazidi people, but also the Yazidi religion and identity from the region – and three years on, the Yazidi community continues to be disempowered and silenced. Yazda was formed to respond to the various needs of the displaced and traumatized Yazidi community. In addition to implementing multiple humanitarian projects, Yazda engages in public advocacy on behalf of the Yazidi people to ensure they have a voice on major political and social issues. Yazda is active in most areas inhabited by Yazidis in Iraq and in other countries where Yazidis are based. It is registered as a non-profit in Iraq, the USA, the UK, Germany, Sweden and is in the process of registration in Australia and Canada.

Three years after IS’s genocidal attacks, as the military campaign against IS progresses, this report intends to evaluate the current situation of Yazidis living in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), highlighting the main challenges and areas of concern. This report will focus in particular on the current situation and needs of the Yazidi survivors, as well as those Yazidis who are still in captivity. It outlines the achievements to date of the advocacy campaign for genocide accountability and justice, as well as future priorities, and highlights work to secure the civil and political rights of Yazidis in Iraq. Political and military complications in the Yazidi homeland in Iraq are covered, as are the humanitarian situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the status in Yazidi liberated areas, and key factors that are preventing Yazidis from returning to their homes. These current geopolitical issues are serving to further disempower Yazidi survivors, and to continue the genocide that IS began. This report contains recommendations to improve the situation of Yazidis and promotes some key solutions for the future of Yazidis in Iraq.

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