Nadia Murad Press Statement: Meeting with European Council President Charles Michel

Nadia Murad, 23 December 2021, Brussels, Belgium

This week I had the pleasure of meeting the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, to discuss our shared commitment to eradicating sexual violence in conflict areas and providing ongoing support to survivors of this crime.

This occasion granted me the opportunity to share the work Nadia’s Initiative has done to advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence. I outlined how we continue to raise awareness of the genocide against the Yazidi people, as well as the systemic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war - both against the Yazidi community and in conflict areas worldwide.

I also had the opportunity to commend the European Council’s support for the pursuit of peace and justice throughout Europe through holding ISIS perpetrators legally accountable for their crimes of genocide and sexual violence, the most recent example of which can be found in Germany. 

I further noted the unique challenges faced by the Yazidi community in Iraq — in particular, security concerns in Sinjar, the ongoing displacement of my people, and the nearly 3,000 still missing Yazidi women and children — and its linkage to the ongoing migrant crisis along the borders of the European Union.

During this important meeting, President Michel and I reiterated our commitment to combatting sexual violence through a two-pronged approach that encompasses both advocacy work and tangible support in the form of aid and assistance to vulnerable populations in conflict areas. President Michel recapitulated the EU’s commitment to mobilize resources that can tackle the root causes of sexual and gender-based violence, evidenced by his call to action to the global community.

Today, I am proud to announce our engagement toward achieving several shared goals in 2022. These goals relate particularly to women’s empowerment and combatting sexual violence in conflict through the “Women in Conflicts” initiative. 

The initiative, spearheaded by President Michel, aims to share the voices and experiences of survivors and female leaders, as well as mobilize action and resources through commitments by world leaders to end sexual and gender-based violence in conflict zones.

In 2022, our shared priorities will be:

· Goal 1: Hold two impactful high-level events leading to tangible commitments.

· Goal 2: Advocate for more resources to be allocated to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

· Goal 3: Urge world leaders to take concrete and robust actions to end impunity for sexual and gender-based violence and hold perpetrators accountable.

I look forward to continuing our work with the European Union advocating on behalf of women and survivors, both from my community and the world over.