Event Overview
A Decade After the Yazidi Genocide: Overcoming Obstacles on the Road to Recovery and Justice is an event dedicated to advancing the future of the Yazidi community. Marking ten years since the Yazidi genocide on August 3, 2024, this gathering seeks to highlight the ongoing challenges and efforts needed to secure justice and a sustainable future for Yazidi survivors. Organized by Stichting Vluchteling, the Yazidi Legal Network, and Yazda, the event will facilitate important discussions about the current struggles faced by Yazidi survivors and the progress made towards addressing their needs.
The event will feature a special screening of Daughters of the Sun by Reber Dosky, a compelling documentary that explores the experiences of Yazidi women who survived the genocide. Reber Dosky will be present alongside two survivors from the film to discuss their personal stories and the ongoing impact of their experiences. The conversation will provide valuable insights into their recovery journeys and the broader quest for justice. The event will be conducted in both English and Kurdish Kurmanji to accommodate a diverse audience.
Organised By
Event Details
Location
Peace Palace (Vredespaleis), The Hague
Event Agenda
18:45 - 19:15
Accessing venue (security check)
19:15 - 19:30
Welcome
19:30 - 20:30
Documentary Screening
Daughters of the Sun by Reber Dosky
After - Talk and Q&A Session
Discussion with documentary participants and broader discussions with other Yazidi survivors.
20:30 - 21:30
21:30 - 21:40
Closure Evening
The event will also feature "Nobody's Listening," an award-winning Virtual Reality initiative that commemorates the Yazidi genocide by ISIS in 2014.
This immersive VR experience, filmed in Sinjar, allows participants to walk through crime scenes and hear powerful testimonies from survivors. Thikran Mato, a Yazidi activist and survivor, will lead the VR sessions and offer insights into the current situation and advocacy options afterward.
"Nobody's Listening" has been globally showcased, including at the Parliament of Iraq, ZKM | Center for Art and Media, and the US Institute of Peace. It is currently displayed at events across Iraq marking the 10th anniversary and has been used in UK schools to counter extremism.
This initiative is a partnership between Yazda and Upstream International.
Practical Details
Venue Information
The Peace Palace, located in The Hague, is an iconic symbol of international diplomacy and justice. Home to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Hague Academy of International Law, the Peace Palace has long been a center for promoting peace and resolving international disputes. Its historic significance make it a fitting venue for discussions on justice and resilience.
Accessibility: The Peace Palace is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you require special accommodations, please inform us in advance.
Security: Please ensure that you register by the deadline to facilitate security arrangements. We recommend to arrive early to allow time for security checks. Identification document is required. Due to safety and security requirements, you will not be allowed without identification documents.
Address: Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, The Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)70 302 4160
Website: www.peacepalace.org
Registration
Virtual Attendance:
For those who prefer to join us online, please register before 18:00 CET on 16th September 2024 using the form below to receive a link to the livestream of the event.
In-Person Attendance:
To attend the conference in person, please register before 18:00 CET on 16th September 2024 by using the form below. Due to venue capacity and security requirements, early registration is advised.
Please note: Registration is mandatory for both in-person and virtual attendance. Please fill out the form correctly. Please make sure the names on the form match your ID exactly, or entry to the premises may not be facilitated. Visitors must bring with them their identification card or passport. Thanks for your understanding!
Important Information
Contact:
For any questions or further information, please reach out to us at info@yazidilegalnetwork.org with the subject line: Yazidi Conference Inquiry.
Support The Cause
Learn more about how you can support Yazidi survivors and contribute to their path toward justice and resilience by visiting the support pages of Yazidi Legal Network, Stichting Vluchteling and Yazda.
We look forward to welcoming you to this important conference and working together towards meaningful progress for the Yazidi community.
Conference Speakers
Benjamin Caton (Moderator)
Benjamin Caton is a moderator and opinion leader. He coordinates justice, inclusivity, and equality efforts at Greenpeace and is well-known for his insights on colonialism, migration, housing, and queer identity. His dedication to social justice is demonstrated by his 3.5 years as a volunteer captain at Woondiversiteit, a housing project for refugees and Dutch-born residents and as the founder of the Decolonial Indonesia-Netherlands Commemoration.
Fawziya
Fawziya, born in 2009 in Shingal was just five years old when she was abducted by ISIS and separated from her parents, who are still missing. Over two years, she was sold multiple times before being rescued by smugglers. Now still a teenager, Fawziya cares for her two younger brothers after her older brother was killed in Syria. Despite leaving school, she manages the household alone. Her story is featured in Reber Dosky's documentary "Daughters of the Sun," and she will speak during the evening Q&A session, highlighting her resilience.
Reber Dosky
Reber Dosky is a Dutch documentary filmmaker known for his politically engaged films, many of which focus on Kurdistan. Originally from Dohuk, Kurdistan, he moved to the Netherlands in the late 1990s and studied at the Netherlands Film Academy. He won the IDFA Award in 2016 for Radio Kobani and the Best Dutch Documentary Award at IDFA 2019 for Sidik and the Panther. In 2023, he released Daughters of the Sun, a film about Yazidi women abducted and sold into slavery by ISIS and their efforts to rebuild their lives. The film will be shown during the evening session.
Sarab
Sarab was abducted by ISIS at the age of 11 and endured years of enslavement, being trafficked through multiple locations by various perpetrators, both local and foreign. Eventually, Sarab was rescued by a Kurdish militia group and now lives in the Kurdistan Region. She is a committed advocate for the Yazidi community, seeking justice for herself and other survivors of the ISIS genocide. Her story is also featured in Reber Dosky’s "Daughters of the Sun," and she will share her journey and advocacy efforts during the evening's Q&A session.