We were honored to have Ms. Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder & Managing Director, The Zovighian Partnership and Ms. Zena Haji, Member of Yazda Yazidi Survivors Network with us, on the occasion of the Seventh Annual Commemoration of the #YazidiGenocide.
Ms. Zena Haji, Member of Yazda Yazidi Survivors Network eloquently spoke:
"We cannot return to our homeland under the current circumstances. And we remain stuck in these camps where we burn in the summer from heat and where we die in the winter from cold, It is not a permanent and suitable solution for us.”
"We need confidence once again, and confidence needs real action and effort from the relevant authorities and stakeholders, from the Iraqi government, the KRG, from the international community, so that we can return to our areas.”
Ms. Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder & Managing Director, The Zovighian Partnership shared her thoughts:
"The temporary and permanent houses that the Yazidis will […] live in once construction is over in Sinjar do not include their voices, their needs, their identity, their unique ways of life, and their socio-cultural and religious fabric that makes them community.”
"Until mass graves are exhumed, and the dead are honored, villages will remain open cemeteries.”
"Every zone masterplan will need to be defined and designed with each respective community at the decision-making table. A masterplan will need to include community-led housing designs, but also integrate the key services and spaces for community assets.”
"The Yazidis need to be given the services and the enablement to achieve and thrive, to be able to become productive communities once again, to be able to give back to themselves so they may also give back to Iraq and the Kurdistan region.”
Speech transcripts are available in the English and Arabic languages on the Yazda website, featuring the chronic challenges and crucial actions that need to be urgently addressed and facilitated, for the return of Yazidis to Sinjar.
The Seventh annual commemoration of the #YazidiGenocide was held under the patronage of of His Excellency Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi. The two-day commemoration took place on Zoom on August 2-3, 2021 and was hosted by Yazda in partnership with The Zovighian Partnership.
We welcomed 35 speakers and panelists with over 300 delegates and more than 14,000 live online followers.
We thank you for being with us and helping us build together a safe and trusted place for needed debates to plan new foundations for immediate actions.
