Statement by Ricardo Rodriguez, Head of UNAMI Regional Office Erbil, at the first international conference of the Yazidi genocide

It’s a great honour for me to represent the United Nations at this important event marking the 4th anniversary of one of the darkest episodes of modern history; the massive killing and enslavement of thousands of Yazidis perpetrated by the terrorist organization ISIS.

In a matter of days, in August 2014, the life of the peaceful and ancestral Yazidi community turned into a hell. ISIS terrorists acting under a false interpretation of Islam and with unprecedented cruelty massacred thousands of them, enslaved girls and women, and forced them to displace to other parts of the country under extreme conditions.

ISIS indiscriminately destroyed Yazidi holy sites and invaluable pieces of the cultural heritage. Many thousands of Yazidis have fled to other countries and this has seriously affected the cohesion and future of this ancient and unique community. The barbaric treatment of women has left behind orphans and traumatized women. These events represented one of the darkest moments in the modern times.

We want to praise the generosity of the ordinary people and authorities of the Kurdistan Region for their support and protection of the Yazidis fleeing from that tragedy. The hosting of the Yazidi IDPs has been provided for 4 years despite the financial and security challenges faced by the Kurdistan Region. Thanks for that!, This has shown the world the peaceful and humanitarian face of Kurdistan, Thanks!

On its part, the United Nations is supporting the efforts of the Iraqi and KRG authorities to avoid impunity and bring to justice the perpetrators of such horrendous crimes and It is actively involved in the reconstruction of villages and infrastructure to facilitate the return of Yazidis to their places of origin.

In September 2017, the UN Security Council resolution 2379 approved the establishment of an investigative team to collect, preserve and store evidences that may amount for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

In May 2018, the United Nations Secretary General appointed Mr Karim Khan from the United Kingdom as the Special Advisor to head this investigative team. Mr Khan has more than 25 years of experience in international criminal and human rights law.

This investigative team visited Erbil and Dohuk a few days ago and met with victims of ISIS atrocities and with relevant authorities of the Kurdistan Region in order to assess the conditions for their deployment.

The team will work all victims affected by ISIS of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, however, given the magnitude of the Yazidi tragedy, their time and resources will be very much focused on gathering of evidences and investigating the crimes against Yazidis.

In addition to the trauma endured by the Yazidi people, we know that houses and towns have been devastated by the conflict. The United Nations is actively working with the Iraqi and KRG authorities to reconstruct the damaged infrastructure, reopen schools and clinics, reestablish the electricity and water networks, and rebuild government facilities. We know that without the restoration of the local government and services, there are little prospects for the Yazidis to return home and rebuild their community live.

UNDP is implementing 91 stabilization projects in Sinjar and Sinuni. They include the rehabilitation of schools, health clinics, a hospital, wells and water networks. One of the most important projects is the installation of a high-voltage power line that, for the first time, provides reliable electricity to approximately 100.000 Yazidis in Sinjar and Sinuni. This was possible by connecting the power line serving Sinjar and Sinuni with the Mosul dam.

Another example is the joint project of UNDP and UN-HABITAT to reconstruct 1,064 houses in Sinjar area before the end of the year. At this point 562 have already been completed.

Ladies and gentlemen, the suffering of the Yazidis continues today with thousands of them remaining in IDP camps, many others are still missing and kidnapped, mostly women and young girls. There are many requiring psychological assistance, financial support to start new businesses.

There is much left to do. The United Nations, in coordination and cooperation with other partners and government institutions, is and will always be ready to support the Yazidis in their quest for justice, in their rights to a dignified life and their return to their ancestral places of origin.

Let’s all work together to achieve those goals.

Thank you very much