Today, Wednesday 2026/10/21, a ceremony was held in Erbil to announce the launch of the Yazidi Survivors’ Renaissance Network. The ceremony was attended by a number of officials and guests from inside and outside the Kurdistan Region.
At the ceremony, Mr. Dilshad Shahab, assistant to the president of the Kurdistan Region, read a message from His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region. The text of the message follows:
Distinguished guests,
Dear survivor sisters and brothers,
Good day, and welcome to Erbil, everyone.
It is a pleasure that this different ceremony is being held today—a ceremony that, unlike in the past, is not intended to keep alive the memory and remembrance of the painful acts of burying people alive, genocide and the crimes of ISIS terrorists against our Yazidi compatriots, but rather to witness an initiative and a new beginning by survivors who, through their determination and persistence, are seeking to build a new life and a better future.
Through their steadfastness and courage, the Yazidis proved that terrorism, despite all its crimes and brutality, could not break their will or extinguish their hope for life. They showed that they are determined to stand on their feet once again, reclaim their rights and build a better future for themselves and their children.
The announcement today of the “Survivors’ Renaissance Network” reflects this determination and represents an important step toward a new stage in which the survivors themselves will have the initiative, a voice and an effective role in matters and decisions concerning their rights and future.
We congratulate them on this step and once again declare our support for their efforts and objectives. In this initiative, we see an important opportunity to consolidate cooperation and solidarity among survivors from all communities that fell victim to ISIS crimes.
Distinguished guests,
It has been our duty, and we have always supported the Yazidis in difficult and challenging circumstances. On this occasion, we reiterate that in Kurdistan, Iraq and anywhere else, we will continue to support them and defend their legitimate rights and identity. Also, as long as even one abductee remains, our office will continue its efforts to secure their freedom, return them and clarify their fate.
Achieving justice, guaranteeing survivors’ rights, uncovering the fate of those missing, implementing the Yazidi Survivors Law, creating suitable conditions for the return of displaced people, and rebuilding Shingal (Sinjar) and other Yazidi-populated areas are among our main duties, and we will spare no effort in this regard.
It is the survivors’ right for justice to be carried out in their cases; it is also their right that their lives not remain forever captive to genocide. Rather, opportunities must be created for them to become active partners in building their future and their society.
We believe that hearing the survivors’ voices and involving them in decisions concerning their lives and rights is a central part of justice and respect for their human dignity. Therefore, the success of this network will be the success of every effort aimed at achieving justice, reconstruction, peace and peaceful coexistence.
Dear sisters and brothers,
I congratulate the survivors on their courage, steadfastness and persistence in pursuing progress. I congratulate them on this initiative to announce the “Survivors’ Renaissance Network” and hope it will usher in a new stage of hope, work and achievements.
I also appreciate the efforts of the organization “Yazda.” I thank the government of Germany, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and all partners and supporters of this achievement.
May you always remain proud. Thank you very much.
Nechirvan Barzani
President of the Kurdistan Region
2026/10/21
