“Help us build a better, safer, and more just world for future generations.”
~ Nadia Murad
~ Nadia Murad
Nadia Murad, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador, is a leading advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence. Nadia’s peaceful life was brutally disrupted in 2014 when ISIS attacked her homeland in Sinjar to ethnically cleanse Iraq of all Yazidis. Since Nadia's escape from ISIS captivity, she has shared her story to raise awareness of ISIS and its genocidal campaign against the Yazidi people. She has become a powerful advocate for women in conflict settings and survivors of sexual violence worldwide.
Much of Nadia’s advocacy work is focused on meeting with global leaders to shed light on the continued plight of the Yazidi people and the need for justice for survivors of sexual violence. Nadia is the President and Chairwoman of Nadia’s Initiative, which actively works to persuade governments and international organizations to support the sustainable re-development of the Yazidi homeland. Nadia is the author of her memoir, The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity and My Fight Against the Islamic State.
Nadia’s Initiative is dedicated to rebuilding communities in crisis and advocating globally for survivors of sexual violence. The Initiative’s current work is focused on the sustainable re-development of the Yazidi homeland in Sinjar, Iraq, where Nadia grew up. When ISIS launched their genocidal campaign, they not only killed and kidnapped Yazidis, but also destroyed the Yazidi homeland to ensure the community could never return.
Nadia’s Initiative partners with local communities and local and international organizations to design, support, and implement projects that promote the restoration of education, healthcare, livelihoods, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), culture, and women’s empowerment in the region. All Nadia’s Initiative programs are community-driven, survivor-centric, and designed to promote long-term peacebuilding. The Initiative advocates governments and international organizations to support efforts to rebuild Sinjar, seek justice for Yazidis, improve security in the region, and support survivors of sexual violence worldwide.
Last week in Geneva, Nadia's Initiative co-founder Abid Shamdeen held a series of meetings, including with Barham Salih, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Abid spoke with the High Commissioner about the Yazidis who remain displaced more than a decade after the genocide, and the importance of moving beyond temporary measures toward sustainable, long-term solutions.
Nadia Murad traveled to Finland for high-level meetings with senior government leaders on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and justice for survivors.
Nadia met with President Alexander Stubb and his spouse, Mrs. Suzanne Innes-Stubb, to discuss how Finland can help strengthen global responses to CRSV and expand pathways to justice for survivors. She also met with Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, to underscore the importance of sustained diplomatic leadership in advancing justice and accountability.
Nadia Murad, human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was awarded France's highest national honor — the Legion of Honour — by President Emmanuel Macron in a ceremony at the Élysée Palace on April 21.
The Legion of Honour recognizes individuals whose service reflects an exceptional commitment to the values of dignity, justice, and humanity. In awarding this honor, France acknowledged Murad’s global leadership in advancing justice and accountability for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, as well as her work to ensure that survivor voices shape international responses to these crimes.