Widad’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.
Read MoreFor Delwas, the 2014 genocide against the Yazidi community shattered childhood dreams she once shared with friends. Today, at the NI Women’s Center, she is reclaiming those dreams by learning English through courses offered in partnership with Jesuit Worldwide Learning.
Read MoreAt the opening of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, world leaders gathered to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most ambitious global commitment on women’s rights and gender equality. On this historic occasion, Nadia Murad issued a powerful reminder: reflection is not enough.
Read MoreThis year, with support from the ALIPH Foundation, Nadia’s Initiative restored the Pirafat Temple site in Qeni village. The project safeguards one of Sinjar’s most important Yazidi sacred sites while ensuring it endures as a dynamic hub for remembrance, healing, and cultural continuity.
Read MoreThis past weekend, Nadia joined global changemakers at the Vatican for the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, a gathering inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti. The purpose of the gathering is to unite individuals of goodwill – across faiths, beliefs, and civil society – to foster a global movement for fraternity and peace while working collectively to address shared challenges.
Read MoreIn the summer of 2014, during the genocide against the Yazidi people, Ghazal was abducted and taken by ISIS to a village near Tal Afar. On a cold December night, she made a daring attempt to escape. But exhaustion and the bitter winter cut her journey short, and nearby villagers buried her where she fell – without a grave marker.
After more than a year of determined work, Nadia’s Initiative secured the approvals needed to exhume her remains.
Read MoreEleven years after ISIS brought genocide to Kocho, Nadia Murad returns to Iraq to lay her brothers to rest.
Read her powerful reflection on the moment from TIME.
Read MoreOn August 3, Yazidis gather in Sinjar and around the world to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide – one of the most brutal atrocities of our time. Nadia’s Initiative joins the Yazidi community in honoring the victims, stands in solidarity with survivors, and calls on the international community to meet their resilience with meaningful action. Read our full statement here.
Read MoreWhen ISIS stormed Sinjar in August 2014, Sari’s husband vanished. Pregnant and clinging to her five terrified children, she was taken into captivity. Over the next three years, she endured the death of her newborn son, enslavement, and unimaginable brutality. When Sari finally escaped, she and her children spent another three years in a displacement camp – alone, exhausted, and fighting each day to survive. And when she returned home to Sinjar, there was no home left. Only ruins, silence, and darkness. Still, she rose. Sari’s story is not just one of survival. It is a testimony to the strength of Yazidi women and the unbreakable power of motherhood.
Read MoreNadia’s Initiative is deeply alarmed by the recent forced deportation of a Yazidi family from Germany to Iraq, which was carried out despite an active court order halting their removal. The Potsdam Administrative Court had issued a binding decision (VG 16 L 845/25.A) granting suspensive effect to the family’s asylum appeal, recognizing serious legal doubts about the deportation and ruling that the family must not be removed. Nevertheless, German authorities proceeded with the deportation in violation of this order.
Read MoreOn the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we remember that behind every statistic on CRSV is a story. This is the story of Rihan – one marked by captivity, loss, survival, and strength.
Read MoreAfter the trauma of the genocide, a powerful transformation is underway in Sinjar. At the Women’s Center, a new generation of women and girls is coming together through sport – building confidence, connection, and resilience.
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