About Nadia’s Initiative

Rebuilding communities in crisis and advocating for survivors of sexual violence.

Nadia’s Initiative is on a mission to create a world where women are able to live peacefully and communities that have experienced trauma and suffering are supported and redeveloped. We advocate — at the local, national, and international levels — for resources and policy changes needed to protect and support survivors of sexual violence and rebuild communities in crisis. We collaborate with global leaders, governments, and international organizations to raise awareness and direct critical funding necessary to making positive, meaningful change.

Advocacy: The Initiative’s advocacy work focuses on ending the use of women and girls as weapons of war and ensuring survivors’ voices are heard. We seek justice through fighting to hold perpetrators accountable and enabling survivors to heal and rebuild their lives. We also advocate to ensure that communities in crisis are not forgotten by working to restore basic resources, services, and security in fragile regions. Currently, we are focusing our efforts on rebuilding Nadia Murad’s ancestral homeland in Sinjar, Iraq, which was systematically destroyed by ISIS in 2014.

Programs: Nadia’s Initiative is uniquely positioned to facilitate the re-development of Sinjar, Iraq due to its extensive knowledge and understanding of the political, cultural, and economic complexities of the region. We bring a comprehensive peacebuilding approach to the process of rebuilding and recognize that reconstruction efforts must be developed locally - local solutions to local problems. This type of approach will empower survivors to play an active role in the peacebuilding process.

Governance

Nadia’s Initiative (NI) is a survivor-led organization founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Nadia Murad, whose mission is to rebuild communities in crisis and advocate for survivors of sexual violence. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NI also operates a field office in Sinjar, Iraq.

NI operates as a registered nonprofit organization in the United States, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 82-3855510), and is also recognized as a Public Benefit Organization (ANBI) in the Netherlands under Dutch tax law (RSIN: 8278 42 375).

Our governance structure reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical stewardship. The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing NI’s strategic direction, financial management, and organizational effectiveness. Comprising seven members, the Board is elected annually, with each Director serving a one-year term. Directors remain in office until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Any vacancies or newly created directorships may be filled by a vote of the remaining Board members. To learn more about our Board and leadership, please visit our Team page.

Looking Ahead

Since its inception in 2018, Nadia’s Initiative has earned the trust and recognition of governments, policy makers, activists, and advocates throughout the world as a leader in sustainable, community-driven development and advocacy as it relates to women, peace, justice, and security. In a short time, Nadia’s Initiative has provided both regional and cultural expertise in Iraq in an effort to rebuild Sinjar and strengthen security in the region. 

With continued investment from our supporters, we will be able to advance our efforts to hold perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes accountable. We plan to continue our advocacy efforts to support the building of sustainable infrastructure throughout Sinjar, as well as the provision of services across the health, education, livelihoods, clean water, culture, and women’s empowerment sectors. Our continued work will ensure a better and brighter future for the entire Yazidi community and all those who live in the Sinjar region.

While we’ve made tremendous progress advocating for reparations for survivors and promoting legislation that ensures the protection of women’s equal rights under the law, the fight for a more equitable world is an uphill battle that will require the continued support of the international community. Our progress is only possible by strengthening and building our partnerships with INGOs, NGOs, CSOs, and governments. Our partnerships enable us to prioritize the human rights of the communities we are working to serve and protect. They enable us to shift the status quo to a more humane and equitable world through the promotion of legislation and provision of services to those most in need.