The Yazidis:
A forgotten genocide
Photo by © 2022 Khaled Mohammed / Zovighian Public Office
Special session at the Palace of Luxembourg in Paris
As we neared the 10-year mark since the start of the Yazidi Genocide, we held a special session co-hosted by French Senator Nathalie Goulet, Yazda, and the Zovighian Public Office on Monday, June 24 at 9:00-12:30 at the Médicis Hall at the Luxembourg Palace.
Our program will focused on the needs, rights, and calls for justice of Yazidi survivors. We had the honor of hearing firsthand from Manal Luqman Khalaf, Nasrin Hassan Rasho, and Shireen Khero Khudeeda from the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN), and Yazda Executive Director Natia Navrouzov, as well as human rights and diplomacy leaders.
Documented speeches:
Opening keynotes
Nathalie Goulet
Senator of l’Orne, French Senate
Manal Luqman Khalaf
Human Rights Activist, Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN)
Natia Navrouzov
Executive Director, Yazda
First panel: Justice for crimes committed: Initiatives and obstacles
Nasrin Hassan Rasho
Human Rights Activist, Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN)
First panel
Justice for crimes committed: Initiatives and obstacles
Second panel: The needs and demands of survivors, ten years after the genocide
Shireen Khero Khudeeda
Human Rights Activist, Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN)
Second panel
The needs and demands of survivors, ten years after the genocide
Closing keynotes
H.E. Wadee Al Batti
Ambassador of Iraq in France
Dominique Verien
President of the Commission for Women's Rights and Senator of l’Yonne, French Senate
Senator Pierre Ouzoulias
Vice President, French Senate
Lynn Zovighian
Founder, Zovighian Public Office
10:00-10:15 Iraq time / 9:00-9:15 Paris time
Opening keynotes
10:15-10:40 Iraq time / 9:15-9:40 Paris time
Baba Sheikh Spiritual leader, Yazidi Supreme Spiritual Council (Video)
Nathalie Goulet Senator of l’Orne, French Senate
Manal Luqman Khalaf Human Rights Activist, Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN)
Natia Navrouzov Executive Director, Yazda
First panel: Justice for crimes committed: Initiatives and obstacles
10:40-11:25 Iraq time / 9:40-10:25 Paris time
In this panel, Yazidi community members and legal experts will present the multiple legal actions initiated by survivors in international and special tribunals. Panelists will give a detailed explanation of political and institutional shortcomings that are dramatically affecting the chances for genocide survivors to achieve justice.
Moderator | Natia Navrouzov Executive Director, Yazda
Nasrin Hassan Rasho Human Rights Activist, Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN)
Marion Chahuneau Associate Investigator, Gender and Children Unit, UNITAD
Luke Vidal Partner, Askolds Law Firm
Second panel: The needs and demands of survivors, ten years after the genocide
11:35-12:20 Iraq time / 10:35-11:20 Paris time
In this panel, Yazidi community members and humanitarian leaders will share the multiple chronic and accentuated needs of Yazidi survivors who have returned from captivity, from mental and sexual health to socioeconomic support and heritage preservation. Together, panelists will draw out a roadmap of recommendation actions that are urgent and indispensable for governments and stakeholders.
Moderator | Farhad Shamo Roto President, Voice of Ezidis
Shireen Khero Khudeeda Human Rights Activist, Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN)
Dr. Nagham Hasan Gynecologist, Private practice
Elke Selter Director of Programs, ALIPH Foundation
Questions and answers
12:20-13:00 Iraq time / 11:20-12:00 Paris time
Closing keynotes
13:00-13:30 Iraq time / 12:00-12:30 Paris time
H.E. Wadee Al Batti Ambassador, Republic of Iraq in France
Dominique Verien
President, Commission for Women's Rights and Senator, l’Yonne, French Senate
Senator Pierre Ouzoulias Vice President, French Senate
Lynn Zovighian
Founder, Zovighian Public Office
Exhibition "Nobody's Listening"
Master of ceremonies
Lynn Zovighian
Founder, Zovighian Public Office
