Chapman welcomes Nadia Murad: A conversation on justice and the future

Photo Courtesy of Nadia’s Initiative

In 2014, Nadia survived the Yazidi genocide and captivity by ISIS, witnessing the massacre of her hometown. After surviving, Murad became an activist for survivors who suffered from sexual violence and war, further raising awareness about the Yazidi genocide. She went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to end sexual violence as a common weapon of war and support other survivors. 

Her passion for the cause led her to start Nadia’s Initiative, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to rebuilding communities in crisis and advocating for survivors of sexual violence. 

On Feb. 24, Nadia Murad, a Yazidi human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, came to Chapman University to discuss reparations for survivors of conflict-related to sexual violence.

Her lecture began with a comprehensive view into the organization’s mission statement and methods to ensure that survivors receive reparations and their day in court. 

“We have a long way to go, but we have been working in more than 28 countries with survivors from everywhere and we have been bringing about change with their stories, encouraging them to design their own forms of reparations,” Murad said. 

Her discussion, centered around reparations for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, encompassed ideas regarding a path to help survivors rebuild after experiencing trauma.

“Being here is about many more stories we have not heard yet,” Murad said. “I know how difficult it is to share your story over and over again, but I also know from my family, my sisters, my nieces and my cousins, it is also extremely difficult to not share and keep it to yourself. It makes healing even more challenging.”

Nadia also went on to speak about the importance of one’s identity and physical documentation when experiencing conflict-related sexual violence. 

“All my documents were burned when taken by ISIS and I became a stranger in my own country. Getting survivors back their IDs is very important and a form of reparation and it became a priority for me after I survived,” Murad said.

The interviewer went on to ask about the Murad Code, a global project which aims to construct and support a strong community for survivors of systematic and conflict-related sexual violence. When dealing with conflict-related sexual violence, survivors often are not aware of their rights and the Murad Code helps ensure that they are educated on what their possibilities are. 

“The Murad Code is a great document for people to go look at it and benefit from it,” Murad said. “It's a code of conduct that should be used by the UN and others for people like me because it was made by survivors. This code ensures the prevention of retraumatization of survivors because in the future we will need these testimonies and this evidence if we want to hold the perpetrators accountable.” 

Murad went on to clarify that this opportunity was the first time for many survivors to read a document in their own language, providing them with an understanding that they had not previously had. 

“At the beginning, when I shared my story, a lot of people tried to call me a victim, but I never saw myself as a victim,” Murad said. “That is something I share with many survivors; this happened to me but I don’t just want to be a story. Working on these projects and with the survivors community creates empowerment, giving them a sense of themselves back.” 

During the end of the conversation, students asked Murad questions regarding her organization and story. One of the questions was about Nadia’s Initiative and the Global Survivors Fund and how they have been impacted by the suspension of U.S. aid. 

“Nadia’s Initiative had a big project with the United States to build a new village in Iraq because the old village was destroyed. The U.S. supported the idea that USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) would build new houses for the women affected, but the funding was removed. We are hoping to find new ways to work with the new administration and explain that these projects are very important for supporting survivors and women,” Murad said. 

“It is extremely important for the United States to support minorities and survivors, especially considering the U.S.’s long history in Iraq, and I believe that also comes with a responsibility to ensure that vulnerable communities are not left behind,” Murad added. 

The conversation concluded with Murad stating that it is especially important to raise awareness and continue to have these conversations. 

“I want to prevent what happened to me from happening to others and to provide guidance. I only knew I had a story and sometimes, that is all you need, to share your story,” Murad said.