YEZIDI GENOCIDE AND THE STRUGGLE FOR RECOVERY - In August 2014, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) unleashed a genocidal campaign, committing atrocities against various religious and ethnic groups, particularly the Yezidis. Within days, the violence resulted in the mass killing, abduction, enslavement, and displacement of hundreds of thousands of Yezidis, while shrines and cultural sites were destroyed in an attempt to annihilate the community.

While ISIS has been militarily defeated, Yezidis continue to face significant challenges in recovering from individual and collective trauma, protracted displacement, socio-economic marginalization, and a glaring lack of justice and accountability. Survivors and their families continue to grapple with psychological scars, the loss of loved ones, and the agonizing plight of the more than 2,600 missing Yezidis. Reconstruction and development efforts are severely handicapped by security concerns, regional interference, and political instability in Sinjar, while the quest for justice is slowed by inadequate domestic legal processes.

The sessions highlight policy options to empower the Yezidi community, including the critical and unique role of the United States. Yezidi civil society leaders, US officials, and Iraq experts discuss progress, setbacks, and next steps. The dialogue explores how the international community can support the Yezidi people in their journey toward healing and justice.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 07/29/2024