Five years after Iraq passed its Survivors Law, organizations in Iraq and abroad say the measure remains important, but much of what was promised to survivors has still not been fully delivered.
The law, adopted on March 1, 2021, was meant to support Ezidi survivors and others targeted by the terrorist organisation (isis), through compensation, healthcare, education, housing, and public sector job opportunities. It also formally acknowledged the genocide and crimes against humanity committed against the Ezidi people and other affected groups.
Since then, some progress has been made. A small part of the survivors are now receiving monthly payments, which many say have improved daily life, strengthened financial stability, and helped restore a sense of dignity.
But major problems remain. Rights groups say many survivors still face difficult procedures, unclear decisions, and legal barriers when trying to access their rights. Rehabilitation services remain limited, trauma-sensitive education is still lacking, and housing support is often tied to return areas that many survivors do not consider safe or viable.
Organizations also warn that Iraq still lacks proper national laws to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes as such. This continues to leave many survivors without full justice for the atrocities committed against them.
In their statement, the signatories called on the Iraqi government to make the law’s procedures fairer and more transparent, fully deliver all promised reparations, and strengthen accountability for ISIS crimes. They also urged the international community to preserve evidence and provide technical support for survivor-centered reparations.
A broader discussion about conflict and women’s experiences also highlights why survivor-centered policies remain essential. Recent analysis on women in conflict zones stresses that minority women often face the most severe forms of violence and exclusion. The genocide committed against the Ezidi people in Sinjar in 2014 remains a stark example: thousands of Ezidi women and girls were abducted, enslaved, and subjected to systematic sexual violence, while many remain missing to this day. Experts emphasize that survivors continue to deal with long-term trauma, displacement, and economic hardship, underscoring the need for reparations, justice, and meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding. At the same time, the resilience and leadership of Ezidi women, many of whom have become advocates for justice and accountability, demonstrate how survivors themselves are shaping the global conversation about conflict, recovery, and the protection of minority peoples.
Five years on, the outcome is clear: recognition matters, but survivors need more than words. Ezidi survivors are still waiting for full justice, meaningful reparations, and lasting dignity.
