Recent Advocacy News
This week marks a historic milestone for the people of Sinjar. Nadia’s Initiative (NI), in partnership with project owner La Chaîne de l’Espoir, and with support from the Government of France, completed the construction and full equipping of the new hospital in Sinjar, known as the Sinjar French Medical Center (SFMC). The facility was officially handed over this week to the Iraqi Ministry of Health and the Nineveh Health Directorate.
Last week, Nadia visited Chapman University as part of the university’s Inauguration Event Series, opening the week with a public conversation with Dr. Jennifer Keene, Dean of Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. In a powerful discussion, Nadia shared her personal story of survival and her ongoing efforts to advance justice and recovery for survivors of sexual violence through her global advocacy and the work of Nadia’s Initiative.
At the opening of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, world leaders gathered to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most ambitious global commitment on women’s rights and gender equality. On this historic occasion, Nadia Murad issued a powerful reminder: reflection is not enough.
This past weekend, Nadia joined global changemakers at the Vatican for the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, a gathering inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti. The purpose of the gathering is to unite individuals of goodwill – across faiths, beliefs, and civil society – to foster a global movement for fraternity and peace while working collectively to address shared challenges.
Nadia’s Initiative is deeply alarmed by the recent forced deportation of a Yazidi family from Germany to Iraq, which was carried out despite an active court order halting their removal. The Potsdam Administrative Court had issued a binding decision (VG 16 L 845/25.A) granting suspensive effect to the family’s asylum appeal, recognizing serious legal doubts about the deportation and ruling that the family must not be removed. Nevertheless, German authorities proceeded with the deportation in violation of this order.
“On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women who have fought for change, often at great personal risk. Women who have broken barriers, challenged stereotypes, and paved the way for future generations. But we must also remember the women whose stories go untold—the women in rural villages, refugee camps, and war zones who fight for survival and dignity every single day.”
Watch to learn more about NI’s global advocacy on behalf of survivors in 2024, led by Nadia Murad.
Nadia Murad and Sheryl Sandberg's TIME Op-Ed: After more than a decade in captivity, Fawzia Amin Sido was rescued from Gaza, returned to Iraq, and reunited with her family on Oct. 2. Fawzia’s freedom is a reminder that thousands of women and children remain in captivity. The international community has failed, time and again, to bring them home and to hold everyone who contributed to these crimes against humanity accountable.
“The resilience of survivors must be met with resolve from the international community.”
It has been nine years since the Kocho massacre and the community still bears the trauma. Kocho community members deserve justice, support to rebuild, and memorialization initiatives to honor those who were lost and heal through collective remembrance.