“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.
The Sinjar French Medical Center (SFMC) is now open to the public.
What began years ago as a promise made by President Emmanuel Macron to Nadia Murad and the people of Sinjar is now a reality. Designed to expand access to healthcare — especially for women, children, and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) — this hospital will deliver essential services to families who have endured immense hardship and deserve quality care close to home.
Our partners at the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) have released In Our Own Words, a new survivor-centered resource on the ethical gathering and use of information about systematic and conflict-related sexual violence, created to complement the Murad Code. The resource was developed alongside survivors and organizations around the world, including Nadia’s Initiative, and includes a powerful foreword by Nadia Murad.
In 2025, Nadia Murad led NI’s global advocacy efforts to advance the rights, dignity, and leadership of women and survivors around the world. From conversations with students about turning values into action, to standing alongside survivors and global leaders to drive accountability and justice, Nadia amplified the voices of women and survivors and pushed for tangible change.
Watch our 2025 advocacy overview video to learn more.