Genocide by ISIS: The Plight of Yazidis in Iraq and Syria and the Role of the International Community

Date:

Thu, 06/09/2016 - 4:00 PM

Location:

Cannon 441

Announcement

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies for a briefing with Ms. Vian Dakhil, the only female Yazidi member of the Iraqi Parliament, and other panelists, on steps the international community can take in response to the finding that genocide has been committed against the Yazidi people.

In August 2014, as the Islamic State was attacking the Yazidi community in Iraq’s Sinjar mountains, Ms. Dakhil brought international attention to the catastrophe through an impassioned parliamentary address, pleading for protection and assistance for a civilian population facing enslavement or execution. A week after her speech, Ms. Dakhil almost died in a helicopter crash on the mountain side during her own mission to rescue stranded Yazidis. Since then, she has been actively involved in providing assistance to Yazidi women and children who have fled ISIS-controlled areas.

Ms. Dakhil will share her analysis of the situation on the ground and the efforts of men and women to rebuild their communities. Other panelists will join the conversation and provide additional recommendations for consideration by the Congress.

This briefing is open to members of Congress, congressional staff, foreign policy professionals, the public and the media. Light refreshments will be served. To RSVP, please click here. For any questions, please contact Isaac Six (for Rep. Pitts) at 202-225-2411 or Isaac.Six@mail.house.gov, or Kimberly Stanton (for Rep. McGovern) at 202-225-3599 or Kimberly.Stanton@mail.house.gov.

Hosted by:

Joseph R. Pitts, M.C.
Co-Chairman, TLHRC

James P. McGovern, M.C.
Co-Chairman, TLHRC

Witnesses

Participants

Opening Remarks

Rep. Joseph R. Pitts, Co-Chair, TLHRC

Panelists

Ms. Vian Dakhil, Member of Iraqi Parliament
Mr. John Hannah, Senior Counselor, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Ms. Katrina Lantos Swett, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.