Rosy Cave
Last year, there was an exhibition of photos taken by the renowned architectural photographer and RAF officer Anthony Kersting during his time in the Kurdistan region in the 1940s at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.
The photos captured scenes of daily life, particularly among the Yezidi community, as well as some of the traditional architecture of the region. Seen in the context of everything that has happened to the Yezidi community in the intervening years, they are heart-breaking, highlighting how much has changed for the community.
The horrendous atrocities that the Yezidi community faced at the hands of ISIS must never be forgotten or brushed over, and efforts by all parties to redress the crimes committed against them must be redoubled.
This August marks the ninth year since the lives and livelihoods of Yezidi families were shattered by the horrendous atrocities perpetrated against them. On August 1 of this year, the UK Government formally acknowledged that acts of genocide were committed against the Yezidi people in 2014.
This determination only strengthens our commitment to ensuring that the Yezidi people receive the compensation owed to them and are able to access meaningful justice. The hatred and intolerance that led to the killings must never again be allowed to grow in people’s minds and destroy lives and livelihoods again.
In May, as part of the first ever royal visit to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh met survivors of ISIS-perpetrated sexual violence from the Yezidi, Turkmen, and Shabak communities. She heard firsthand the testimony of those who suffered unimaginable cruelty at the hands of ISIS and about the ongoing challenges they face. Yezidi and other minority communities, including those that continue to be displaced, need continuing holistic support and services, including psychosocial support and skills training. Efforts need to advance to rescue the nearly 3,000 women and girls who remain missing, and solutions need to be found for the children born of #ISIS# rape.
The UK Government advocated strongly for the passing of the Yezidi Survivors Law, an important first step towards assistance, justice, and accountability for survivors of the sexual violence committed by ISIS. In 2021, we funded the technical and practical implementation of the law, which will provide reparations for women from minority communities who have suffered from ISIS atrocities and conflict-related sexual violence. This year, we are providing a further £100k to develop capacity for ISIS accountability and increase survivor access to reparations and rehabilitation. The UK is continuing to listen to survivors regarding the challenges and re-traumatization they face in accessing reparations and lobbying to improve accessibility and implementation.
In parallel, the UK government has contributed £2 million to the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIS (UNITAD). We continue to champion its work in gathering evidence of crimes, including against minority communities. We also promote the Murad Code, a global survivor-centered code of conduct on gathering information and evidence of conflict-related sexual violence, helping to ensure that survivors are not re-traumatized when sharing their testimonies and contributing to achieving justice and accountability.
The UK has given over £278m in humanitarian support to Iraq since 2014, providing a vital lifeline of emergency food, shelter, medical care, and clean water to the most vulnerable in Iraq, including to minorities such as Yezidis.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) deserve to be able to return safely and securely with dignity to Sinjar. That is why the UK Government supports the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement and hopes to see a mayor appointed urgently to help manage Sinjar's reconstruction needs. As the world commemorates the ninth anniversary of ISIS’ campaign against the Yezidis, the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with Yezidi and other minority communities. We will continue to support them in their fight for reparations, justice, and accountability.
Rosy Cave is the Consul General of the United Kingdom in the Kurdistan Region.[1]