SULAIMANI — The Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR) said in a press release on Monday (July 13) that legislative progress is needed on the Ezidi Female Survivors’ Law that was submitted by the Iraqi presidency to the Council of Representatives in 2019, adding that the families of the survivors cannot wait any longer.
“More than a year has passed since the Iraqi presidency submitted a [Ezidi] Female Survivors’ Law to the Iraqi parliament for review and approval. This was a most welcome step, but more progress is needed,” C4JR said in the press release. The presidency transferred the legislation on March 28, 2019.
The current draft law applies to Ezidi women who were kidnapped and enslaved by ISIS and later escaped or were rescued from captivity and will award financial compensation to these survivors so that they can rebuild their lives and homes. It also aims facilitate their full rehabilitation, reintegration into society, and enable them to live in dignity and prosperity.
Given that the law has not yet passed, C4JR urged lawmakers to take the opportunity to broaden the language of the law to include Iraqis of all ethnic groups, religions, and genders who suffered sexual violence at the hands of Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
“The new draft law does not discard the [Ezidi] Female Survivors’ Law but builds on its framework,” the coalition said, noting that the proposed amendments would keep “provisions assuring compensation, recognition of genocide against Ezidis, prohibition of amnesty for perpetrators, commemoration, remembrance, and many others.”
Thousands of Ezidi women and girls were abducted and sold into sex slavery by the ISIS militants in August 2014 when the group attacked the Sinjar district in an act of genocide. More than 3,000 Ezidis remain missing according to official statistics.
Ezidis were specifically targeted with sexual violence because they believe that both parents must be from the religious group to be considered Ezidi.
C4JR is a coalition of 25 Iraqi civil society organizations that works “to put the spotlight on pressing needs of the survivors” of conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by ISIS militants.
Source:
https://www.nrttv.com/En/News.aspx?id=22491&MapID=2
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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