Sema
At the 11th annual commemoration of the Ezidi Genocide hosted by U.S. Claudio Cordone, the UN Deputy Special Representative in Iraq, emphasized that the 2020 Sinjar Agreement—which aimed to bring stability to Iraq’s Sinjar district—remains unfulfilled.
Even years after the genocide, over 200,000 Ezidis are still displaced, with many residing in camps. Cordone stressed that any return to Sinjar by Ezidis must be “voluntary, safe, and dignified.”
“For such returns to be possible, appropriate political, administrative, and security conditions are essential,” he stated, referencing the Sinjar Agreement as a key initiative that has yet to be implemented.
“Sinjar still lacks a functioning mayor, the planned local security force intended to build community trust has not been deployed, and the area continues to suffer from inadequate public services and economic opportunities,” he said.
Cordone also acknowledged recent progress, such as the conversion of occupancy certificates into official land titles in April, which provided many Ezidis with formal land ownership for the first time in generations. However, he noted that many more still await legal recognition of their property rights.
The Sinjar Agreement, brokered in October 2020 by Baghdad and Erbil with UN backing, was designed to support the return of displaced Ezidis. Yet, Kurdish leaders have consistently pointed out that the deal has not been carried out, and armed groups continue to operate in the region.