In continuing her work on supporting survivors of conflict, The Duchess of Edinburgh has attended the London opening of the travelling exhibition, ‘The Women Who Beat ISIS’, which tells the stories of survivors of the Yazidi Genocide. The exhibition brought to London by the Farida Global Organisation, who aim to support survivors and their communities in a survivor-centric and culturally sensitive informed manner.
The Yazidi Genocide involved the persecution of the Yazidi people by ISIS in Iraq and Syria, beginning in August 2014. Thousands of Yazidis were massacred, while women and girls were subjected to sexual slavery and other atrocities, and many were forcibly displaced.
The Duchess of Edinburgh viewed ‘The Women Who Beat ISIS’ exhibition. (Royal Family)
During her visit to the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office to see ‘The Women Who Beat ISIS‘, The Duchess of Edinburgh participated in a panel discussion on the Yazidi Genocide and pathways to recovery. Yazidi survivor Awaz Abdi shared her personal experience of the genocide as a 10-year-old and reflected on its profound impact on her family.
Other speakers included Saeed Qasim Sulaiman from the Farida Global Organisation, who spoke about the pain behind the exhibition and the significance of preserving these stories through initiatives like ‘The Women Who Beat ISIS’.
In her closing remarks, The Duchess thanked the speakers for their courage in sharing their stories and praised all those who contributed to the exhibition for their dedication to highlighting the devastating impact of conflict-related sexual violence.
‘The Women Who Beat ISIS’ tells the stories of the survivors of the Yazidi Genocide. (Royal Family)
Following the panel, The Duchess of Edinburgh toured the exhibition in the Durbar Court, accompanied by Yazidi survivors. The exhibition features a poignant collection of photographs that document the genocide and its aftermath, alongside educational panels providing insights into the socio-cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds of the Yazidi people. Life-historical and autobiographical accounts from survivors offer further context to the horrors endured and the resilience demonstrated by the Yazidi community.
The Duchess shared a touching moment with Yazidi survivor Awaz Abdi at ‘The Women Who Beat ISIS’ exhibition. (Royal Family)
The Duchess of Edinburgh’s presence at the launch of the exhibition continues to demonstrate her commitment to supporting and championing the survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, a cause she has backed since 2019.
