Photo: A boy walks on a road at the Mamrashan camp for civilians displaced by war, located a half hour’s drive from Dohuk city in Iraq, on January 14, 2017. © 2017 Alice Martins/AP Photo
The recent Human Rights Watch report on Iraq titled “Compensation for ISIS Victims Too Little, Too Late” reviews efforts of the Iraqi Government to provide reparations for survivors of ISIS atrocities in Iraq, particularly for those from Sinjar district. It looks at Law No. 20 of 2009 and Yazidi Survivors Law (YSL) of 2021 through which ISIS survivors can access compensation and other forms of reparations. The report shows that, despite of certain progress being made concerning implementation, many survivors and their families continue to suffer from the consequences of ISIS brutality, with limited access to justice and reparations. HRW calls Iraqi authorities to:
- Strengthen capacity of institutions involved in the compensation process,
- Ensure adequate funding,
- Go beyond monetary compensation to ensure restitution, rehabilitation and reconstruction as well as symbolic reparations and
- Remove the requirement for survivors to file a criminal complaint to be eligible to access reparations under the YSL.
Survivors of ISIS atrocities are RIGHT HOLDERS. It’s time for the Iraqi government to take immediate action to ensure that survivors realize their RIGHT TO REPARATIONS.
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The Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR), with the support of IOM Iraq, is publishing regular newsletters on the Yazidi Survivors Law (YSL) in three languages. Check out the Eighth Newsletter now, in English, Arabic, and Kurdish (Sorani and Kurmanji).
The eighth issue of the Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR) newsletter covers:
- Reparation Payments: The Directorate for Survivors’ Affairs has disbursed reparations to 1,975 survivors covered by the YSL in August 2024.
- UNITAD Reports: UNITAD has recently released several key reports on ISIL's international crimes in Iraq, concluding that ISIL's actions likely constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide against Yazidis, Shi’a Turkmen, Christian communities, and other minorities.
- End of UNITAD’s Mandate: Following the conclusion of UNITAD’s mandate, C4JR’s Criminal Justice Working Group published a statement emphasizing the urgent need for the Iraqi government to pass legislation enabling the prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
- New Toolkit Released: C4JR and Jiyan Foundation released their Ethical Engagement Toolkit, to guide NGOs and journalists in engaging with survivors to address key issues such as informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, and cultural sensitivity, designed for various contexts.
- Yazidi Genocide Commemoration: On the tenth anniversary, Yazidi civil society held a commemoration in Solagh, Sinjar, honoring victims and demanding justice from the Iraqi government and international community, by prosecuting ISIS terrorists, rebuilding Yazidi areas, compensating survivors, and ensuring legal reforms to prevent future atrocities.
- UN Special Rapporteur Report: The UN Special Rapporteur’s report calls for action against sexual torture in wartime and will be presented to the UN General Assembly on October 25. The report acknowledges contributions from the Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights and other stakeholders during a study visit to Iraqi Kurdistan.
- Challenges and Recommendations: The newsletter presents an overview of the outstanding challenges faced by survivors applying to the YSL and recommends measures to ease YSL application burdens.
- Get to Know C4JR Members: Learn more about Emma Human Development Organization, which provides legal and psychological services to ISIL survivors.
🗣 The newsletter is available in Arabic, Sorani, and Kurmanci.
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