Jiyan Foundation Statement in Remembrance of the Yazidi Genocide

NEW YORK —  Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights Founder and Chairman Salah Ahmad released the statement below in remembrance of the Yazidi Genocide perpetuated by ISIL in Sinjar, Iraq, where terrorists massacred and abducted thousands of innocent civilians. On August 3, 2014, ISIL terrorists executed men and boys and abducted hundreds of women and children. Of those who survived, the youngest boys were forced into ISIL training camps while women and girls were sold into sexual slavery.

“As we honor the victims of the Yazidi Genocide and continue our work in supporting survivors, Jiyan Foundation calls on the Kurdish and Iraqi governments to work with us and other non-government partners to develop a national strategy to address the pressing needs of survivors in Sinjar and those of other atrocities in Iraq.

“Their suffering has gone on for too long. We urge leaders in Baghdad and Erbil to make the necessary investments into medical and mental health treatment, provide on-going support for survivors, create dialogue and education programs for our communities, and hold those responsible for these heinous crimes accountable for their actions in compliance with international law.

“For far too long communities across Iraq — Yazidi, Christian, Sabean-Mandaean, Turkmen, Kaka’i, Shabak, Iraqi, and Kurdish — have been repeatedly and consistently targeted by violence and hate. Our towns have been burned to rubble, rebuilt, and destroyed again. We must commit to break this cycle and with the support of government, international and local partners, We are ready to do our part.”

About Jiyan Foundation

Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights is a nonprofit organization that supports survivors of human rights violations, defends fundamental freedoms, and promotes democratic values throughout the world. Jiyan Foundation seeks to build democratic societies that protects the dignity of the human being, where adults and children enjoy the rights to life and freedom, and citizens are free from violence, torture, and terror,

Our programs, projects, and initiatives provide mental health, medical treatment and other health services to survivors of trauma, terror, domestic violence, and human rights violations. Our work supports nine treatment centers, a clinic for Yazidi women and families, a Healing Garden and mobile teams helping survivors in 11 refugee and IDP camps in nine regions throughout Kurdistan, Iraq, and Syria. Since 2005 these programs have provided support to over 100,000 people.

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