With support from Ta’afi and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and in coordination with the Iraqi National Team for Mass Graves Affairs, Nadia’s Initiative (NI) recently launched a project to protect and preserve 15 mass graves across Sinjar and promote advocacy on behalf of families still awaiting the return of their loved ones’ remains. The preservation and timely uncovering of these graves and the identification and return of remains is a critical aspect of justice due to these victims and their families, and will provide a sense of closure denied to them for nearly 10 years.

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Today, with her roots firmly reestablished in Sinjar, she helps other Yazidis find their own happiness. Slowly but surely, she is restoring her spirit – which may have bent, but never broke.

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Thousands of Yazidi survivors, victims’ families, local community members, government authorities, and representatives from international and local organizations gathered at the mass grave in Kocho village to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kocho Massacre.

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The residents of Kocho never imagined that their small village, nestled in a green valley at the foot of Mount Sinjar, would one day gain international recognition and become a significant chapter in contemporary history.

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Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Kocho Massacre, one of the darkest moments of the Yazidi Genocide. Listen to survivors recount their harrowing stories of a period that has left an indelible mark on the Yazidi community.

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In a single moment, four trucks loaded with explosives caused a massive explosion that devastated the streets of Qahtaniya in 2007, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries. The terrorist organization Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack. The pain of that day resembled what happened in August 2014, when ISIS took over the Sinjar district, bringing death and darkness to Qahtaniya once again, and destroying what was once a beautiful life there.

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Many years ago, Sufyan was a young boy dealing with a challenge no child should ever face. Today, he is a confident young man who instills pride in his family and projects hope for all Yazidis.

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On August 3rd, Yazidis gathered in their homeland of Sinjar to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide. Held at the Yazidi Genocide Memorial in Solagh, the event was attended by thousands of Yazidis representing the diverse mosaic of the community. Nadia Murad was present at the ceremony, sitting before the “Grave of Mothers,” where Nadia’s own mother was killed by ISIS militants. The community was joined by representatives from diplomatic missions and UN agencies, whose presence in Sinjar demonstrated an important show of solidarity.

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“We stand before the international community today to declare that Sinjar is safe with its people. Restoring it to life is a moral responsibility that rests on everyone.”

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“We had a choice: to cease to exist, or to fight on and continue our lives.”

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On August 3rd, the Yazidi community will come together in Sinjar to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the genocide carried out by ISIS. Yazidis are unified in this commemorative effort, and over the past several months, Nadia’s Initiative has joined a coalition of over 50 local organizations, survivors, families of the victims, community leaders, and activists to coordinate this important event. The “Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide” in Sinjar will be a tribute both to the victims of the genocide and the resilience of survivors. It will be a moment for remembrance and an opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to the pursuit of justice.

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“Others in my community have big dreams: to travel abroad, return to school, and find a meaningful job. But the loss of my past has made it impossible for me to think about my future. And so, my dreams are simpler. I just want to see my family again, to be reunited, in a dream. Because even that fleeting moment would be better than this unending nightmare.”

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“I wonder if the world has forgotten my loved ones. As a survivor myself, I cannot forget. I feel their suffering every single day.”

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In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide, Nadia’s Initiative is sharing a series of survivor stories to highlight the impact of the genocide at an individual level. While these stories are harrowing, they shine a light on the incredible resilience of survivors. The first story features Pakiza, a survivor who lost her husband to the genocide, and who has sacrificed everything to give her nine children a better future.

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After a decade of displacement in IDP camps, hundreds of Yazidi families have returned to their homeland in Sinjar, with many more on their way. These families are coming back to homes that were looted and destroyed by ISIS in 2014. Despite some notable progress in restoring infrastructure and basic services, the community still requires substantial support from the Iraqi government and the international community to rebuild their homes, restore their livelihoods, and access employment opportunities.

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This week, Nadia Murad was joined by survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), Mr. Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, and Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, to unveil the “Mother & Justice” Mobile Memorial.

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To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Nadia joined U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, fellow survivors, and experts at the White House to call for more robust accountability mechanisms and survivor-centered approaches in the fight to end conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

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Today marks a significant step in honoring and remembering the thousands of Yazidi and Shiite lives brutally taken by ISIS in one of the darkest chapters in recent history. In the summer of 2014, ISIS launched devastating attacks in Iraq, leading to the massacre of thousands, particularly targeting Yazidis in Sinjar and Shiites in Tal Afar. Among the most horrific atrocities was the mass killing at Alo Antar in the town of Tal Afar, where 1,500-2,000 were murdered, including women and children, and subsequently buried in a mass grave.

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