Iraq's Ministry of Migration issues empty statements: High Council of Women Affairs

Erbil (Kurdistan 24) - At the Sixth Lalish Conference on Peace and Coexistence in Erbil, Khanzad Ahmad, the Secretary-General for the High Council of Women Affairs, voiced strong criticism against the Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displaced for their lack of effective action and empty statements regarding the plight of displaced individuals, particularly Yazidis.

Speaking on Tuesday, Ahmad stated, “The Lalish conference aims to shed light on survivors of gender-based violence, as well as sexual violence that has been used as a weapon in Kurdish society in general and Yazidis in particular.”

She emphasized the need for concrete actions over mere words from the ministry and the federal government.

Ahmad expressed deep concern about the situation in Sinjar and the surrounding areas, questioning the progress made over the past decade. "We want to know what the situation is like in Sinjar and its surroundings, the condition of its survivors, and the condition of individuals and society in general after 10 years. Were the concerned parties able to create an appropriate environment for the return of a survivor of ISIS violence to his homeland?" she asked, highlighting the lack of implementation of the Sinjar Agreement.

"Why is the Sinjar Agreement not implemented? If they do not want to implement the Sinjar Agreement, so what is the intervention?”

She further criticized the ministry's ineffective measures, saying, "The Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displaced issues empty statements, and the federal government issues orders every day through this ministry and calls for the return of refugees to Sinjar."

Ahmad's remarks at the conference underscore the frustration and urgency felt by those advocating for the rights and well-being of Yazidi survivors and other displaced individuals, calling for immediate and tangible action from the relevant authorities.