“Help us build a better, safer, and more just world for future generations.”
~ Nadia Murad
~ Nadia Murad
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 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.
During her recent visit to Colombia, Nadia Murad had the opportunity to meet with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), local leaders, and human rights advocates who are working tirelessly to advance justice and healing in their communities. This visit marked her first time in the country – a place she has long hoped to see, not only for its beauty and culture but because of the profound connections between the experiences of Colombian survivors and survivors from the Yazidi community.
The conviction of an ISIS member in Belgium for genocide and crimes against humanity committed against the Yazidi community represents a landmark in the global pursuit of justice for ISIS’s atrocities.
Nadia’s Initiative has worked closely with prosecutors, investigators, and survivors throughout this process. We commend the extraordinary bravery of the women who testified, and the dedication of all those who helped bring this case to trial.
From November 6 to 14, 2025, the trial of ISIS member and Belgian national Sammy Djedou, also known by his alias Abu Moussab al-Belgiki, will take place in Brussels, Belgium at the Assize Court, the highest Belgian court with criminal jurisdiction for the most serious offenses. Nadia’s Initiative and its staff are providing logistical support in coordination with investigators, the prosecutor’s office, and witnesses before, during, and after the proceedings.