WCRCLEADERS COVER FEATURE: From Surviving Genocide to Leading Global Change—How Nadia Murad Became the World’s Fiercest Advocate for Justice and Human Dignity.
“They Wanted to Silence Me. Instead, They Gave Me a Voice.”
In a quiet village in northern Iraq, under the vast skies of Sinjar, a young Yazidi girl once believed she would grow up to be a teacher. That dream shattered in 2014 when ISIS militants stormed her village, killed her family, and took her captive. But what Nadia Murad chose to do next changed the course of human rights history.
Now, years later, with a Nobel Peace Prize to her name, a bestselling memoir, and a relentless campaign to fight sexual violence in war, Nadia Murad is no longer a survivor. She is a symbol — a beacon of unshakable courage, representing the voiceless millions brutalized by conflict and forgotten by the world.
From Captivity to the Capitol
Nadia’s story is one of unimaginable suffering—but it is also one of fierce, unrelenting resilience.
She was just 21 when she escaped captivity after three harrowing months of sexual slavery. With nothing but fear in her bones and hope in her heart, she walked barefoot out of Mosul. It wasn’t just freedom she was chasing—it was truth, and the courage to speak it aloud.
Her voice, once buried in trauma, became the loudest in the room. In 2015, she addressed the United Nations Security Council, breaking global silence on the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. She stood before world leaders, not as a victim, but as a witness.
Photo Credit: Nadia’s Initiative
The Nobel Laureate Who Refused to Forget
In 2018, the Nobel Peace Prize committee recognized what the world had come to know—Nadia Murad was not just telling her story. She was shaking the conscience of humanity.
She shared the prize with Dr. Denis Mukwege, another tireless fighter for survivors of sexual violence. Together, they ignited a global reckoning.
“I want to be the last girl with a story like mine,” Nadia said in her acceptance speech, holding back tears but not truth. It wasn’t a plea. It was a vow.
A New Chapter: The Nadia Initiative
Recognizing that justice is not just symbolic—it’s structural—Nadia launched The Nadia Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rebuilding communities in crisis and supporting survivors of sexual violence.
In Sinjar, her home village, Nadia is doing more than rebuilding homes—she’s restoring dignity. Schools are reopening. Health centers are returning. Survivors are finding the courage to heal because one of their own dared to come back and say: “We are not broken.”
Rebuilding Hope: Inside The Nadia Initiative’s Mission for a Just Future
When Nadia Murad, a Yazidi human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, launched The Nadia Initiative in 2018, her goal was clear: turn personal tragedy into systemic change. Today, that vision has evolved into a global nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding communities devastated by conflict and empowering survivors of sexual violence.
Photo Credit: Nadia’s Initiative
A Survivor-Led Mission
Born out of Murad’s own experience as a survivor of the Yazidi genocide, The Nadia Initiative works to ensure that healing, justice, and restoration are more than abstract ideals. “This isn’t just about my story,” Murad has said. “It’s about thousands of women and girls who are still waiting to be heard, to be helped.”
At its core, the organization places survivors at the center of its programs—guiding priorities, shaping policies, and leading community development efforts. From advocacy on the world stage to hands-on support in the Sinjar region, the initiative’s reach is both global and grassroots.
Key Focus Areas
Community Reconstruction in Sinjar In Murad’s hometown in northern Iraq, The Nadia Initiative has supported rebuilding schools, clinics, and essential infrastructure. These projects help displaced Yazidis return to a semblance of normal life, restoring not just buildings—but hope.
Justice and Accountability The organization partners with international bodies to document human rights abuses, push for genocide recognition, and support the prosecution of perpetrators of mass atrocities, particularly ISIS members responsible for crimes against Yazidis.
Survivor Support and Policy Advocacy The initiative also runs global campaigns to promote survivor-centric policies. This includes lobbying for reparations laws, trauma-informed care, and inclusion of survivors in peace-building processes.
A Model for Post-Conflict Justice
With its blend of advocacy, reconstruction, and survivor leadership, The Nadia Initiative has become a model for what justice can look like after war and genocide. As the world continues to confront humanitarian crises, the initiative stands as a reminder: recovery is possible—but only if those who’ve lived through the worst are trusted to lead the way.
Nadia’s presence is now felt everywhere: from UN halls to university lectures, from grassroots women’s shelters in Iraq to diplomatic tables in Washington and Brussels.
But she remains deeply rooted. Despite her global influence, Nadia refuses to become an abstract symbol. She constantly returns to the ground—to the dirt roads of Sinjar, to Yazidi mothers searching for missing daughters, to the gravesites of genocide victims yet to be identified.
“Justice is not a theory,” she told WCRC Leaders. “It’s knowing where your loved ones are buried. It’s seeing your community alive again.”
Fighting Impunity, One Testimony at a Time
One of Nadia’s most courageous undertakings has been her work toward international accountability. Her testimonies have helped push for formal genocide recognition of the Yazidi people’s suffering and sparked demands for trials at the International Criminal Court.
She also advocates tirelessly for survivor-centered justice systems, where victims are not retraumatized by the very structures meant to protect them.
Books, Speeches, and the Power of Storytelling
“I want to be the last girl in the world with a story like mine”
Nadia’s memoir, The Last Girl, isn’t just a book—it’s a battle cry. Translated into over 40 languages, it has become a lifeline for victims and an awakening for readers worldwide.
Whether she’s speaking to young girls in refugee camps or policy leaders at the G7 Summit, Nadia uses the power of story to catalyze change. Her words slice through indifference. Her silence, when she chooses it, speaks even louder.
A Sisterhood of Survivors
What makes Nadia’s activism so unique is her deep connection to the broader sisterhood of survivors. She doesn’t just advocate for Yazidis—she walks beside Rohingya women in Bangladesh, Syrian mothers in refugee camps, and Congolese girls who’ve faced the same horrors.
Through The Nadia Initiative, she’s building a global alliance that says: “Your pain matters. Your healing is possible. And justice is not optional.”
What’s Next for Nadia Murad?
Despite her accolades, Nadia’s journey is far from over. She continues to push for meaningful policy changes, from national reparations programs to survivor support laws.
Her next mission? Ensuring survivors lead the conversation. “No one should speak for us,” she says. “We are no longer in the shadows.”
A New Dawn for the Yazidi People
The genocide may have tried to erase a people—but thanks to Nadia Murad, the Yazidis are writing a new chapter. One of rebirth. One of hope.
In her gentle voice lies the echo of a thousand silenced ones. In her eyes, a future where war’s worst crimes are no longer ignored. And in her footsteps, a generation rising with the strength to say: “Never again.”
Nadia Murad at a Glance
Year
Achievement
2014
Escaped ISIS captivity
2016
Named UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking
2018
Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
2018
Published memoir The Last Girl
2018
Founded The Nadia Initiative
2023
Helped secure first conviction of ISIS crimes as genocide
FAQs About Nadia Murad
1. Who is Nadia Murad? Nadia Murad is a Yazidi human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who survived ISIS captivity and now advocates against sexual violence and for justice for genocide victims.
2. What is The Nadia Initiative? It is a nonprofit organization founded by Nadia that supports survivors of sexual violence and helps rebuild communities affected by conflict.
3. How did Nadia Murad win the Nobel Peace Prize? She was awarded in 2018 for her courageous campaign to end sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.
4. What impact has her activism had globally? Nadia’s advocacy has influenced international law, brought global attention to Yazidi genocide, and helped create frameworks for survivor-centered justice.
5. What is The Last Girl about? It’s Nadia’s memoir detailing her experience as a captive of ISIS and her journey to becoming a global human rights icon.
6. How can people support Nadia Murad’s work? You can donate to The Nadia Initiative, raise awareness about the Yazidi genocide, and advocate for policies that protect women in conflict zones.
