“I never thought I could escape my past. I felt trapped, lost, like my life had stopped even after I was freed,”
one young Yazidi survivor recalls, describing the weight of trauma after years in ISIS captivity . For countless Yazidi women and children who endured genocide and conflict-related sexual violence, the struggle did not end with freedom – it continued in displacement camps and bureaucratic hallways, fighting for recognition and justice. Farida Global’s Yazidi reparations project set out to change that. Through this inspiring initiative, survivors of the Yazidi genocide – particularly women and children – have been empowered to reclaim their rights under Iraq’s Yazidi Survivors Law (YSL), accessing long-awaited reparations and support . The project’s success is not just measured in numbers, but in the restored hope and dignity of survivors who once felt forgotten. Now, many of them are rebuilding their lives with newfound confidence and a sense of justice.
Key Achievements and Impact
Farida Global’s project has made a tangible difference in the lives of Yazidi survivors, turning the promise of the YSL into a reality on the ground. Over the past year, the project achieved remarkable results:
• Hundreds of survivors assisted: Farida’s legal team provided 887 individual legal consultations to Yazidi survivors, far exceeding the initial target of 600 in the duration of 5 months . These one-on-one sessions helped survivors navigate complex application procedures, obtain documents, and understand their rights. In addition, seven in-person legal awareness sessions were held across Duhok, Sinjar, and Sharya, reaching 128 survivors (79 women and 49 men) with guidance on the YSL application process . Through these efforts, survivors gained the knowledge and confidence to engage with a system that once seemed inaccessible.
• Reparations claims secured: The project directly facilitated 20 survivors in completing and submitting full reparations applications under the YSL, enabling them to secure the compensation and official recognition they deserve . Each successful claim represents a life changed – a survivor obtaining financial support, legal status as a victim of genocide, and the acknowledgement by their country of the horrors they endured.
• Holistic support and referrals: Farida Global paired legal aid with compassionate psychosocial care. The team conducted 85 feedback and referral sessions to ensure survivors’ broader needs were met, providing individualized referrals to medical care, mental health services, and other support as needed . At least 17 survivors received dedicated mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) referrals through the project, integrating healing with justice . This holistic approach meant that applying for reparations was not just a paperwork process, but part of a larger journey of recovery.
• Survivor empowerment and satisfaction: Beyond the numbers, the project empowered survivors to become their own advocates. Over 85% of participating survivors reported a clear increase in awareness of their rights and entitlements under the law . Survivors who once felt voiceless learned how to navigate the legal system, file appeals, and even hold authorities accountable for delays. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive – 88.5% of survivors expressed high satisfaction with the support services provided by Farida , and 100% rated their interaction with Farida’s staff as “very good” .
“For the first time in years, I feel like I have a future. I am not just a survivor; I am rebuilding my life,” shared one young woman after receiving Farida’s support , a testament to the project’s life-changing impact.
• Strengthening institutions: Farida Global’s advocacy reached deep into the institutions meant to serve survivors. The organization trained and mentored government staff at the Iraqi Directorate for Survivors’ Affairs (IDSA) – the body responsible for implementing the YSL – to improve their capacity and survivor-centered approach. A dedicated legal consultant worked side-by-side with IDSA, and specialized training sessions on ethical, trauma-informed engagement were provided to 17 IDSA staff members . Thanks to regular coordination and coaching, IDSA officials began streamlining procedures and adopting more compassionate practices, reducing bureaucratic hurdles for applicants . This improved capacity and cooperation will continue to benefit survivors long after the project’s conclusion.
Overcoming Challenges through Advocacy and Innovation
Achieving these successes was not easy. Survivors seeking reparations faced a maze of challenges – from onerous paperwork to institutional roadblocks – that could easily dash their hopes. Farida Global identified each barrier and tackled it head-on, ensuring that no survivor’s claim was left to languish due to red tape. Key challenges and the project’s responses included:
• Bureaucratic hurdles: complex procedures at government offices initially slowed the processing of survivors’ applications. Many survivors grew frustrated as they were asked to submit document after document, or travel long distances to follow up on their cases. Farida Global intervened by working hand-in-hand with the Iraqi Directorate for Survivors’ Affairs to cut through the bureaucracy. The team coordinated directly with IDSA officials in regular meetings, helping to fast-track high-priority cases and simplify application steps for survivors . By fostering open communication and problem-solving with the authorities, Farida ensured that survivors weren’t left helpless in the face of administrative delays.
•The legal team helped survivors gather recorded testimonies and documentation from international organizations that had documented their captivity . They diligently located any possible witnesses still in Iraq and supported them in preparing sworn affidavits . Farida’s lawyers also engaged with policymakers and IDSA to highlight the unfair burden this requirement placed on survivors, urging greater flexibility in accepting evidence .
• Institutional limitations: The very institution charged with implementing the reparations law was, at first, ill-equipped to handle the volume and sensitivity of survivor cases. The IDSA was critically understaffed – a government hiring freeze had prevented it from recruiting the permanent, skilled personnel needed to process claims . Recognizing this threat to the law’s success, Farida Global went beyond direct service to become a voice for systemic change. The organization lobbied national authorities to lift the hiring freeze for the IDSA , emphasizing that dedicated staff were essential to uphold the rights of Yazidi survivors. Farida’s team also stepped in with stop-gap solutions: they provided training and mentorship to existing IDSA staff, as noted, to improve efficiency and empathy in handling cases. When the IDSA announced a new initiative to allow Yazidi survivors in the diaspora (living in countries like Germany and France) to submit their testimonies via video conference at Iraqi embassies, Farida swiftly mobilized to support it . The project’s outreach team published information and offered tailored consultations for survivors abroad, so that those who had been resettled could still pursue reparations remotely . In this way, Farida Global helped turn institutional limitations into opportunities – bringing innovative solutions to include survivors everywhere and strengthening the system for the future.
Through relentless advocacy and collaboration, Farida Global addressed obstacles that once seemed insurmountable. “We had to fight for every survivor’s case, but we did it – together,” says a Farida caseworker. The result is a smoother path to justice: government offices more responsive to survivors, rules made more flexible to accommodate their realities, and survivors themselves more equipped to overcome the hurdles that remain.
Healing and Hope: Survivors’ Voices and Holistic Support
Farida Global’s reparations project recognized that true justice for survivors is not only financial but also personal and psychological. Many Yazidi survivors carry invisible wounds of trauma, stigma, and loss that money alone cannot heal. That’s why Farida integrated psychosocial support at every step, providing survivors with safe spaces to heal, connect, and regain control of their lives. This dual focus on justice and well-being has transformed the recovery journey for many participants.
Survivors often arrived at Farida’s center weighed down by nightmares, depression, and fear. Farida’s team of psychologists and social workers – many of them survivors themselves – provided compassionate counseling, group therapy, and peer support. In total, dozens of survivors received direct trauma-focused therapy or psychiatric care through referrals facilitated by Farida. The impact of this support is perhaps best expressed in the survivors’ own words. The young woman who once felt “trapped” by her past soon found reason to hope again. After months of therapy and support, she now smiles and says, “For the first time in years, I feel like I have a future… I am rebuilding my life.”  Empowered by counseling and encouragement, she even returned to school to continue an education derailed by captivity – a remarkable turnaround for someone so young who had nearly lost all hope.
Mr. H., a 46-year-old Yazidi father, is another survivor who experienced this holistic healing. Years after surviving unspeakable brutality – including witnessing the murder of a relative and the disappearance of three of his children – Mr. H was plagued by PTSD, insomnia, and isolation . Through Farida’s project, he received intensive psychotherapy (over 28 sessions) and medical treatment for his trauma . Week by week, he learned to cope with flashbacks, manage his anxiety, and reconnect with relatives. Reflecting on his progress, he shared:
“I want you to continue helping people. What you do is great, and I didn’t know what it felt like to sleep without fear until I came to you.”
For the first time in a decade, Mr. H can finally rest at night knowing he is safe – and he is determined to spend more time with his remaining family, rebuilding the bonds that terror once shattered . His journey from darkness to stability underscores how critical mental health support is in complementing legal justice. Farida Global ensured that survivors were not alone after filing their papers; they walked beside them through the emotional healing process as well.
Throughout the project, survivors’ voices were at the heart of every decision. Farida Global’s team held regular feedback meetings and focus group discussions where survivors could speak openly about their needs and concerns. This survivor-centric approach (“nothing about us without us”) built deep trust.
“When there is trust between the therapist and the beneficiaries, like at Farida Global, survivors can talk about anything that bothers them,”
one participant noted . That trust enabled many who were initially hesitant to come forward and seek help. In fact, Farida’s outreach sparked a broader movement: survivors started telling their neighbors and family about the reparations process, encouraging others to step up. New survivor-led networks emerged – for example, a group of male survivors called “Hope Givers” began advocating for recognition of male victims of ISIS, a group often overlooked in reparations programs . In this way, Farida’s project not only served individuals but also nurtured a growing survivor-led advocacy community that will carry on the fight for justice.
A Call to Action: Supporting Justice and Restoration
The success of Farida Global’s Yazidi reparations project stands as a powerful testament to what focused, survivor-centric support can achieve. Lives have been changed: survivors who once felt abandoned by the world are now reclaiming their voices, their identity, and their rights. Yet, this journey is far from over. Even as hundreds have been helped, many more Yazidi survivors still await justice – some remain displaced in camps, others are only now coming forward to claim reparations, and thousands still suffer trauma that requires care. The hard-won policy improvements, such as more flexible evidence requirements and better staffed institutions, must be expanded and sustained. We cannot afford to lose the momentum.
Farida Global urges the international community, donors, and policymakers to continue investing in survivor-focused initiatives that bridge the gap between paper laws and real-world justice. The Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law is a landmark piece of legislation – but its promise means little unless it is implemented fully and fairly. Projects like Farida’s ensure that this promise is kept, that survivors are not re-victimized by delays or indifference. By supporting legal aid, psychosocial care, and capacity-building, the global community can help replicate and scale these successes to reach every last survivor in need.
Most importantly, we must recognize that justice and reparations for survivors of genocide and conflict-related sexual violence are not just charitable assistance – they are a fundamental human right and a crucial pillar of peace. When survivors receive reparations, it is an acknowledgment of the crimes committed against them and a step toward restoring their dignity. When they receive counseling and support, it helps break the cycle of trauma and heals the fabric of shattered communities. Conversely, if the world neglects these survivors, we send a message that atrocity can go unanswered – something we must never permit.
As we celebrate the achievements of Farida Global’s reparations project – the women starting businesses with their compensation stipends, the children returning to school, the families finding closure – we also look ahead. Now is the time to redouble our commitment. Donors and governments must ensure the continuity and expansion of such programs, so that no survivor is left behind. We call on international stakeholders to provide the funding, political support, and partnership needed to implement the Yazidi Survivors Law in full, and to strengthen similar frameworks for all survivors of ISIS crimes and sexual violence worldwide.
In the words of one survivor turned advocate: “We survived genocide – we shouldn’t have to fight this hard for justice, but we will.” With the continued support of compassionate allies around the world, survivors won’t have to fight alone. Let us stand with them, as Farida Global has, to transform trauma into triumph. Together, we can ensure that every survivor receives the justice, reparations, and healing they deserve – a foundation for hope, and a future where their children can live free of fear. Your support can make all the difference.
Thanks to our donors, ifa/zifik and IOM-Iraq , who made this possible through their generous funding
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