On the 10th anniversary of the Yezidi genocide, the United Nations has renewed its commitment to seeking justice for the atrocities committed by ISIS against the Yezidi community in the Kurdistan Region. A series of commemorative events highlighted the need for continued international attention and action.

During a Security Council meeting on August 8th, 2024, Japan's Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Shino Mitsuko, addressed the assembly, urging the global community to remember the horrors inflicted upon the Yezidis. "What ISIS did to the Yazidis must not be allowed to happen again," Mitsuko declared. "The world should not forget what ISIS did to the Yazidis 10 years ago."

Mitsuko stressed the importance of prosecuting those responsible for the violence, particularly against Yezidi women, and emphasized preventing similar atrocities worldwide. She raised concerns about the technological capabilities of terrorist groups, stating, "Armed groups and terrorists like ISIS and al-Qaeda must be prevented from using technology because they pose a serious threat to societies."

The Deputy Ambassador called on the Security Council to keep the focus on the violence perpetrated by ISIS against the Yezidis, insisting, “Those who did this to the Yazidis must be brought to justice. What ISIS did to the Yazidis 10 years ago must not be allowed to reiterate anywhere in the world.”

The United Nations has been instrumental in documenting the genocide and supporting efforts to bring ISIS members to trial. The Security Council has urged member states to cooperate in tracking down and prosecuting those involved in the atrocities.

On August 3, 2014, ISIS launched a devastating attack on the Sinjar district, home to approximately 500,000 people, predominantly Yezidis. The assault displaced around 250,000 individuals, with 50,000 fleeing to Mount Sinjar, where they faced a prolonged siege by ISIS forces.

The massacre resulted in the deaths of about 3,000 individuals and the abduction of 6,000 Yezidi women and children. The siege of Mount Sinjar saw massacres in at least six villages, with Kocho and Hardan suffering significant casualties.

Post-liberation efforts have uncovered 89 mass graves in the region. ISIS's occupation also led to the destruction of approximately 6,000 homes in Sinjar, leaving lasting scars on the community.

The United Nations continues to work with the Kurdistan Region and international partners to support the Yezidi community, advocating for justice, security, and sustainable development. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the international community's responsibility to prevent such atrocities in the future and to ensure accountability for those who commit them.