In the Sinjar region of Iraq, thousands of people – mostly from the Yazidi community – were targeted by atrocities committed by the Islamic State (ISIL). Although Law No. 20 of 2009 provides compensation for civilian victims of conflicts, military operations, or acts of terrorism, the people of Sinjar remained excluded from these measures for years.

In May 2023 and July 2024, Human Rights Watch reported that no resident of Sinjar had yet received compensation. It was only in November 2024 that the Iraqi authorities made an initial payment to 3,500 people, while tens of thousands of displaced persons are still waiting for justice and reparations. Adding to this is a new obstacle: the executive order signed by Donald Trump in January 2025, which reduced access to certain essential services, including legal and psychological support, in the region.

→ 60 Survivors : direct beneficiarie

Led by the organization Yazda, this project aims to improve access to mental health care and legal rights for Survivors of ISIL crimes and affected communities in Sinjar, by providing personalized legal assistance and identifying bottlenecks in the implementation of Law No. 20.
The objective is threefold:

• Provide psychological support to 50 Survivors of sexual violence;

• Provide comprehensive legal assistance to 10 Survivors of captivity, including the reissuance of identity documents, access to compensation under Iraqi laws (Law No. 20, the Yazidi Survivors Law, etc.), and guidance in a protective, stigma-free environment;

• Conduct a targeted assessment of the obstacles to the implementation of Law No. 20 in Sinjar, producing an advocacy document and a concept note to inform awareness-raising and reform efforts.

©Photo: SSRU!