Nadia Murad was honored at the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center's Champion Honors Luncheon, which recognizes survivors of abuse, leaders advancing awareness and prevention of child abuse, and advocates for mental health. Nadia joins a distinguished group of previous honorees, including Elizabeth Smart, Simone Biles, Connie Chung, and Aly Raisman.
At Nadia's Initiative, we are grateful for the recognition and inspired by the Center's work on behalf of children and families.
Read More“My dream is to achieve justice and defend those who are oppressed. I believe that with education, stability, and continued support, the people of Sinjar can rebuild their lives and create a better future for the next generation.”
Read MoreNadia’s new memoir, I Choose My Beginning: A Story of Courage and Activism, will be published September 15, 2026 by Summit Books, with a foreword by Gloria Steinem. Following her debut The Last Girl, this book chronicles the decade since — from her work advancing justice, accountability, and survivor-centered policy on the global stage to finding love, friendship, and moments of ordinary happiness. It is an honest, courageous account of what justice actually looks like in a life, and what it takes to keep choosing it. We couldn't be more proud for Nadia to share it with the world.
Read MoreNadia’s Initiative is deeply alarmed by the escalating military conflict in Iran and across the broader Middle East. We mourn every civilian life lost and are especially concerned about the disproportionate toll war takes on women, girls, and vulnerable communities.
Nadia Murad, founder and president of Nadia’s Initiative, emphasized: “The international community must act with urgency and unity to prevent further escalation and protect those most at risk.”
Read MoreOn 4 February 2026, Nadia Murad met with Roberta Metsola at the European Parliament in Brussels for high-level discussions on justice, accountability, and support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
Read MoreNadia’s Initiative is deeply saddened and alarmed by the killing of prominent Iraqi women’s rights activist Yanar Mohammed. She was a courageous and unwavering advocate for women’s rights and human dignity in Iraq, and her work inspired many across the country and beyond.
We stand in solidarity with her family, colleagues, and all Iraqi activists who continue to work — often at great personal risk — to advance equality, justice, and the rights of women and girls. Their voices must not be silenced.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreOur 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreIn Sinjar, where genocide devastated the Yazidi community and threatened its very survival, sport has emerged as a powerful force for healing and renewal. Women and girls – many of whom are stepping onto the field for the first time – are at the forefront of this transformation. They are shaping new social norms, redefining what’s possible, and using their strength to drive change.
Watch our video to learn more about the transformative power of sport in Sinjar.
Read MoreIn 2025, Nadia’s Initiative advanced a survivor-led vision of recovery in Sinjar — supporting women and girls, advancing justice for survivors, and helping rebuild the Yazidi homeland through integrated programs grounded in dignity and long-term sustainability.
Watch our 2025 programs overview video to learn more.
Read MoreWidad’s determination has become a catalyst within her family and community. Her siblings have since joined the English language program and she shares what she learns with neighbors and friends. Her dreams have expanded, too. She imagines building a library in Sinuni one day, a space where children can grow up surrounded by books and opportunities she fought so hard to access.
Read MoreAfter years of displacement following the 2014 genocide, Yazidi families are returning to the Guhbal complex of Sinjar – only to discover that their community’s water systems, including the wells they once relied on, had been neglected and damaged as a result of prolonged conflict.
After Nadia’s Initiative rehabilitated the wells and restored the water network, more than 100 families now have safe, continuous access to water for drinking, cooking, washing, and caring for their homes.
Read MoreDuring her recent visit to Colombia, Nadia Murad had the opportunity to meet with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), local leaders, and human rights advocates who are working tirelessly to advance justice and healing in their communities. This visit marked her first time in the country – a place she has long hoped to see, not only for its beauty and culture but because of the profound connections between the experiences of Colombian survivors and survivors from the Yazidi community.
Read MoreThe conviction of an ISIS member in Belgium for genocide and crimes against humanity committed against the Yazidi community represents a landmark in the global pursuit of justice for ISIS’s atrocities.
Nadia’s Initiative has worked closely with prosecutors, investigators, and survivors throughout this process. We commend the extraordinary bravery of the women who testified, and the dedication of all those who helped bring this case to trial.
Read MoreFrom November 6 to 14, 2025, the trial of ISIS member and Belgian national Sammy Djedou, also known by his alias Abu Moussab al-Belgiki, will take place in Brussels, Belgium at the Assize Court, the highest Belgian court with criminal jurisdiction for the most serious offenses. Nadia’s Initiative and its staff are providing logistical support in coordination with investigators, the prosecutor’s office, and witnesses before, during, and after the proceedings.
Read MoreThis week marks a historic milestone for the people of Sinjar. Nadia’s Initiative (NI), in partnership with project owner La Chaîne de l’Espoir, and with support from the Government of France, completed the construction and full equipping of the new hospital in Sinjar, known as the Sinjar French Medical Center (SFMC). The facility was officially handed over this week to the Iraqi Ministry of Health and the Nineveh Health Directorate.
Read MoreEarlier this week, Nadia’s Initiative was honored to welcome the Australian Ambassador to Iraq, H.E. Glenn Miles, and his delegation to Sinjar for visits to the NI Women’s Center and the Yazidi Genocide Memorial. During the visit, the NI team expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people and government of Australia for opening their doors to Yazidis seeking refuge and a new beginning.
Read MoreLast week, Nadia visited Chapman University as part of the university’s Inauguration Event Series, opening the week with a public conversation with Dr. Jennifer Keene, Dean of Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. In a powerful discussion, Nadia shared her personal story of survival and her ongoing efforts to advance justice and recovery for survivors of sexual violence through her global advocacy and the work of Nadia’s Initiative.
Read MoreLast week in New York, Nadia Murad received the “2025 Abely Leading Women and Children to Safety Award,” recognizing her tireless advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence.
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