The 2nd Conference on Genocide & Crimes Against Humanity Draws Strong Global Attention

Northern Justice Watch (NJW), in partnership with RABA, Green Desert, and Salahaddin University, hosted the 2nd Conference on Genocide & Crimes Against Humanity: Defending Dignity: The International Response to the Yazidi Genocide, in Erbil on September 16, 2024. This event focused on the Yazidi Genocide, drawing significant international interest and engagement. 

The conference spotlighted the atrocities committed against the Yazidi community by ISIS, including mass killings, sexual slavery, and forced displacement. Despite ongoing efforts, thousands of Yazidis, particularly women and children, remain missing, held captive, or trafficked. NJW dedicated this year’s conference to amplifying the need for a coordinated global response to these unresolved issues. 

Key discussions included: 

• Raising international awareness about the Yazidi Genocide to cultivate deeper understanding and empathy for the victims. 

• Highlighting the plight of the unaccounted Yazidis, with an urgent call for intensified search and rescue missions to reunite families. 

• Sharing effective support strategies for victims, such as psychological aid, community rehabilitation, and legal assistance. 

• Advocating for global justice measures against perpetrators and sustained support for the Yazidi community’s recovery. 

The conference was attended by prominent academics, bureaucrats, and policymakers from around the world, including: 

• Dindar Zebari, Coordinator for International Advocacy, United Nations Iraq, KRG. 

• Mukesh Kapila, Professor Emeritus at the University of Manchester, former UN Special Adviser. 

• Alex Neve, adjunct professor of international human rights law, University of Ottawa and Dalhousie University. 

• Payam Akhavan, Human Rights Chair and Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. 

• Fawaz Abdulabbas, member of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). 

• Tammy Ames, Head of the Office, Canadian Embassy in Erbil. 

• Steve Young, former Member of the Alberta Legislature. 

• Shayda Hessami, General Director, Humanitarian Aid and Journalism, France. 

• Marie Oniwa, Senior Women’s Protection Adviser at the UNAMI Human Rights Office. 

A highlight of the conference was the testimony of Roza Amin Barkat, a 21-year-old Yazidi survivor who endured two years of captivity by ISIS. She shared her experience, recounting how she was abducted while in the fifth grade. Unfortunately, 27 members of her family, including her parents and siblings, are still missing. 

The event received extensive media coverage and strong participation. NJW’s Executive Director, Serif Aydin, addressed the audience, emphasizing NJW’s commitment to advocating for justice and support for the Yazidi community.