Speech of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan | 11-Year Commemoration of the Genocide against the Yazidis and other Components

I start my remarks by praying for the souls of the martyrs who fell victims to Daesh terrorist organization. Their souls will be immortal in the memory of Iraq and the Iraqis for years to come. We hope that concerted efforts will be made to prevent the recurrence of these massacres, and to eliminate the extremist ideas that we hope will not have a foothold in the Iraq of today, tomorrow and the future.

In the name of the United Nations, I pay tribute to and stand in solidarity with the families of the victims, especially our Yazidi sons and daughters. I call on the international community, organizations and Iraqi officials to work together, with all their power, to help the Yazidi victims and survivors of Daesh to overcome the remnants of the painful past, the effects of which continue to plague the lives and livelihoods of many of them, who, after all these years, are still living in difficult conditions. They are living in camps that lack the most basic elements of a dignified and safe life.

Such situation is neither permissible nor befitting of Iraq. It should not continue. The dignity of Iraq is embodied in the dignity and pride of the Iraqi citizen in every part of the country. Unfortunately, there are those who, to this day, promote the exclusionary extremist ideas of Daesh and hate speech.

Distinguished leaders and people of Iraq,

We have a duty to lift the injustice off our partners in this country, our sons and daughters, regardless of their affiliation. I stress here, in the name of the UN, the necessity of the voluntary return of the Yazidis to their homes and villages in Sinjar and other areas in Iraq, as well as lifting the injustice off other groups in Iraq that have been and are still affected.

I say it publicly that after all these years, not a single Iraqi should remain in displacement camps. Years have passed since the elimination of Daesh, but the consequences and wounds of Daesh are still deep. There are Iraqis who are still far from their rights.

Your excellency the Prime Minister, you have made great efforts, which are highly appreciated and welcomed. However, they did not entirely address the injustice on the Yazidis.

My question is: when will the Yazidis return to their normal life that was devastated by Daesh and others? When will they return to Sinjar?

More than 2,600 Iraqi Yazidis remain missing, including those in captivity and forced detention to this day in Iraq and beyond. The search for them and their recovery should not be through personal efforts. It should be a joint governmental Iraqi and international effort. We should not forget the suffering of the Yazidis, more than 200,000 of whom are still homeless.

The United Nations, the Iraqi government, and other unknown soldiers worked on the drafting of the Sinjar Agreement in 2020. Unfortunately, for reasons known to some of us, it has not been implemented to this day due to political one-upmanship and tensions between internal and external forces. When can this agreement be implemented in word and action? We call on Iraqi officials in Erbil and Baghdad to put aside differences and work together to unite and put the best interests of Iraq and Iraqis first.

Allow me here to mention that we should not forget to work towards Iraq that is free of extremism, Iraq where human rights are respected and protected for all. Let us turn this occasion into a commitment supported by practical and concrete steps rather than slogans.

In conclusion, I take the opportunity to emphasize that the United Nations will remain the protector and defender of the rights of the Yazidis and all Iraqis. It will remain a loyal partner to the country in service of the country and the Iraqis.