On the 11th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide, President Nechirvan Barzani urged Baghdad to fully implement the 2020 Shingal Agreement. This appeal came during a commemoration event in Erbil, where Barzani stressed the importance of restoring peace and rebuilding Yazidi communities.
The President emphasized that Shingal must not remain a battlefield for militias. Instead, the area needs peace, security, and services to allow displaced Yazidis to return home. Barzani stated that Yazidis have waited too long and deserve justice, safety, and dignity in their ancestral lands.
He warned that Yazidi families, especially children born in camps, continue to suffer. Nearly half of the Yazidi population from Shingal still lives in displacement, mostly in Duhok province. Despite ISIS’s defeat in 2017, instability in Shingal remains a major barrier to return.
Barzani also reaffirmed the continued work of the Office of Rescuing Abducted Yazidis. That office operates under the Kurdistan Region Presidency and will not stop until every missing Yazidi is found. As of May, more than 2,500 Yazidis are still missing.
International officials also voiced support. UNAMI’s Claudio Cordone called on both Erbil and Baghdad to speed up implementation of the Shingal Agreement. He outlined three urgent steps: reparations, support for victims of sexual violence, and ensuring safe returns.
The U.S. Consul General in Erbil, Steven Bitner, expressed solidarity with Yazidi survivors. He emphasized Washington’s commitment to justice and reconstruction. He urged Baghdad to appoint a mayor for Shingal, recruit local police, and invest more in rebuilding efforts.
Bitner also criticized the continued presence of Iran-backed militias in Shingal. He said their presence blocks displaced families from returning and undermines stability.
Germany’s Consul General, Albrecht von Wittke, praised Yazidi survivors for their bravery. He highlighted Germany’s commitment to justice, especially through education and job creation. He also mentioned survivor-led initiatives that receive German support, aiming to help families return and heal.
As the world remembers the Yazidi genocide, voices from Erbil made one message clear: stability in Shingal is key to the Yazidi future.