Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (DFR.GOV.KRD) Minister of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Safeen Dizayee spoke in a webcast discussion on Friday titled "Moving Beyond Survival: sixth Anniversary of Genocide of Yazidis and Christians", along with Ambassador of Iraq to the United States, Fareed Yaseen; Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil; Yazidi Activist, Co-Founder and Former Director of Yazda Murad Ismael; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, US Department of State, Joey Hood; and Karim Khan, Special Adviser and Head of UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD). The high-level webcast discussion Co-hosted by Wilson Center’s Middle East Program and the KRG’s Representation in the United States.
The webcast was moderated by Associate Professor of Sociology, American University in Cairo, and 2019 Visiting Professor at the Middle East Initiative of Harvard University, Amy Austin Holmes, and introduced by Ms Merissa Khurma, Project Director-Middle East Special Initiatives at Woodrow Wilson Center.
During the webcast, Minister Dizayee said the issue is very close to the hearts of the people and Government of the Kurdistan Region, and it is very sad that after six years justice is still being discussed. “Justice is something that we believe should prevail,” he said.
The minister added that Kurdistan Region never thought after Halabja, the Anfal campaign, and the chemical attacks that genocide would be allowed to happen again, but tragically, the people of Kurdistan were targeted once more, this time the Yazidis, Christians and other components.
Minister Dizayee said that the victims of this genocide committed six years ago must be honored and always remembered. At the same time, he stressed that we must help survivors to recover from their trauma, through more psychological support provision for all - men, women and children.
He emphasized the importance of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government working together and with partners in the international community to make sure that new administrative and security arrangements are put in place to fulfil the needs of these communities.
In another part of his speech, Minister Dizayee outlined that much remains to be done for Yazidis and Christians; Including helping the communities to rebuild their lives in dignity; sparing no effort to find the missing; reconstructing their areas; facilitating their safe return to their ancestral lands; ensuring their security and prosperity, as well as trust, must re-established, so that Yazidis, Christians, and other communities can live free from fear.
Watch the full webcast conversation on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2732&v=YPqDqSPZfiU&feature=emb_logo&fbclid=IwAR2ZVsT704loQW_yZE7jUgGAAh2_t3K6CXkcCX4fCTuo4wzzsb4fL-h-P2Q