More than a decade after ISIS’s genocide against the Yazidi people, Iraq has begun compensating Yazidi survivors. But justice requires far more than financial support. Introduction On 3 August 2014, the Islamic State (ISIS, also known as ISIL or Da’esh) launched a coordinated attack on the Sinjar region of northern Iraq, home to much of…
Summary In a world that proclaims human rights as universal, what does it mean that entire peoples are rendered legally nonexistent—human beings for whom, as Hannah Arendt put it, “no law exists”? This essay turns to Johann Gottlieb Fichte’s philosophy of recognition to argue that the Rohingya are not only victims of a humanitarian disaster,…
Introduction One of history’s most troubling paradoxes concerns the Jewish people. For nearly two thousand years, Jews experienced persecution, expulsions, pogroms, discrimination, and ultimately the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were murdered. Yet within a few decades of establishing Israel, many observers came to view the Jewish state as responsible for the dispossession, occupation,…
For the past year the author of this article has, with a Canadian colleague, been deeply involved in an unofficial (“Track II”) diplomatic effort to create a solid foundation for successful Israel-Lebanon direct talks. We are doing our best to facilitate negotiations aimed at permanently ending 78 years of hostilities and instituting close, bilateral security…
The Institute for Humanitarian Conflict Resolution embraces a philosophy of peace and reconciliation to ensure that men, women, and especially children in many violent conflict-ridden countries have hope for a better and more promising future
From Genocide to Justice Still Waiting
More than a decade after ISIS's genocide against the Yazidi community, Iraq has begun implementing the Yazidi Survivors Law, providing financial assistance and other forms of support to survivors. In this insightful analysis, Suzan Khedher, a novelist, lawyer, and member of the Yazidi community who was born and raised in Sinjar, Iraq, examines the progress made under the law while highlighting the significant gaps that remain. Although thousands of survivors now receive monthly reparations, many continue to face barriers to healthcare, housing, education, legal documentation, and justice. Khedher argues that true reparations must extend beyond financial compensation to include accountability, reconstruction of Sinjar, the safe return of displaced families, and meaningful recognition of survivors' rights. She concludes that transforming legal recognition into lasting restoration is essential not only for the Yazidi people but also for strengthening the rule of law, advancing reconciliation, and preventing future atrocities. Click here to read the article ihcr.institute/writing/from-genocide-to-justice-iraqs-reparations-for-yazidi-survivors/
The United Nations is facing a serious funding crisis that is already affecting its ability to carry out human rights and humanitarian work around the world. Although the General Assembly recently approved reforms to ease the immediate financial strain, the problem remains far from resolved. According to Human Rights Watch, delayed and unpaid contributions from member states, including some of the UN's largest financial contributors, have forced critical operations to scale back. As HRW warns, "UN member states should explore new avenues to hold delinquent countries accountable." Protecting human rights requires not only political commitment, but sustained financial and moral support.
Despite gradual global progress, 847 million people were living in extreme poverty in 2024, according to updated World Bank estimates. The global extreme poverty rate has been revised upward to 10.4%, with the sharpest increase occurring in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan region, where poverty has worsened in recent years. New data from Pakistan contributed to an estimated 21 million additional people living in extreme poverty across the region. While projections suggest the global rate could decline to 10.0% by 2026, hundreds of millions continue to face severe hardship. The findings underscore the urgent need for sustained international efforts to reduce poverty and inequality worldwide.
