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“Help us build a better, safer, and more just world for future generations.”

~ Nadia Murad

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Nadia’s Story

Nadia Murad, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador, is a leading advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence. Nadia’s peaceful life was brutally disrupted in 2014 when ISIS attacked her homeland in Sinjar to ethnically cleanse Iraq of all Yazidis. Since Nadia's escape from ISIS captivity, she has shared her story to raise awareness of ISIS and its genocidal campaign against the Yazidi people. She has become a powerful advocate for women in conflict settings and survivors of sexual violence worldwide.

Much of Nadia’s advocacy work is focused on meeting with global leaders to shed light on the continued plight of the Yazidi people and the need for justice for survivors of sexual violence. Nadia is the President and Chairwoman of Nadia’s Initiative, which actively works to persuade governments and international organizations to support the sustainable re-development of the Yazidi homeland. Nadia is the author of her memoir, The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity and My Fight Against the Islamic State.

Nadia’s Initiative

Nadia’s Initiative is dedicated to rebuilding communities in crisis and advocating globally for survivors of sexual violence. The Initiative’s current work is focused on the sustainable re-development of the Yazidi homeland in Sinjar, Iraq, where Nadia grew up. When ISIS launched their genocidal campaign, they not only killed and kidnapped Yazidis, but also destroyed the Yazidi homeland to ensure the community could never return.

Nadia’s Initiative partners with local communities and local and international organizations to design, support, and implement projects that promote the restoration of education, healthcare, livelihoods, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), culture, and women’s empowerment in the region. All Nadia’s Initiative programs are community-driven, survivor-centric, and designed to promote long-term peacebuilding. The Initiative advocates governments and international organizations to support efforts to rebuild Sinjar, seek justice for Yazidis, improve security in the region, and support survivors of sexual violence worldwide.

Recent News

Featured
How Livelihood Support and Housing Rehabilitation are Transforming Lives in Al-Qataniya
How Livelihood Support and Housing Rehabilitation are Transforming Lives in Al-Qataniya

“We can’t change the past, but we can build the future.”

In the aftermath of genocide and conflict, rebuilding is about more than just bricks and mortar – it’s about restoring dignity, security, and opportunity. In Al-Qataniya, a Yazidi-majority sub-district in Ba’aj, Ninewa, Nadia’s Initiative (NI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the Government of Japan, have taken a critical step toward this goal.

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Wishing All Yazidis a Blessed and Peaceful New Year
Wishing All Yazidis a Blessed and Peaceful New Year

The colors of life adorn our New Year, just as they once adorned the Earth on the day of its creation. Each colored egg carries the meaning of creation, hope, and the continuity of life. The Yazidi New Year is not just a celebration, but a vow of love, unity, and renewal. Every ritual we perform is a renewed promise of our resilience and the deep roots we hold in this land. A new year begins in Sinjar, where faith is reborn in our hearts.

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Survivors Engage in Dialogue with Representatives from the GDSA
Survivors Engage in Dialogue with Representatives from the GDSA

Recently, survivors gathered at the Women’s Center in Sinjar to meet with representatives from the General Directorate for Survivors’ Affairs (GDSA), offering attendees a meaningful opportunity to be heard and to share their ongoing challenges. This session, organized by the NI team, reflects key components of the Center’s mission, ensuring that survivors are informed, empowered, and supported in claiming their legal rights – in this case, those guaranteed under the Yazidi Survivors Law.

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