Filing Restitution Claims under the Yazidi Survivors’ Law: A Step‑by‑Step Guide for Women and Minors

This encyclopedia entry explains the practical procedure through which Yazidi women and minors can file restitution claims under Iraq’s Yazidi Survivors’ Law (YSL). It draws on official guidelines, implementation reports, and recent programme updates.

The Yazidi Survivors’ Law (Kurmanji: Qanûna Rizgariya Yezîdan) is a 2021 Iraqi statute that provides material reparations to victims of ISIS‑related abduction, sexual violence, and mass killings among Yazidi, Shabak, Christian and Turkmen communities (Source 1).

Pronunciation & orthography

Kurmanji spelling: Qanûna Rizgariya Yezîdan. Arabic‑script: قانون رِزگاری یازیدان. Cyrillic (rarely used in diaspora): Кануна Ризгарија Језидaн. IPA: /qɑˈnuːna riˈzgaːrija jeˈzɨdan/. Common English misspellings include “Yazidi Survivors Law” and “Yazidi Survivor’s Law”.

Main exposition

Eligibility criteria

According to the official fact sheet, the law covers:

• Yazidi, Shabak, Christian or Turkmen women and girls abducted by ISIS.
• Yazidi males abducted by ISIS before turning 18.
• Any survivor of mass killings from the four components.

These categories are expressly listed in the law’s text and reiterated in the Farida Global guidance (Source 2).

Application channels

Three mutually available pathways exist:

1. Online portal: Applicants register on www.YSL.ur.gov.iq, fill out the standard form, and upload required documents. The portal also enables appointment booking for in‑person assistance (Source 1).
2. In‑person assistance: The Directorate of Survivors’ Affairs operates offices in Sinjar, Mosul and Duhok. Applicants can schedule an appointment through the portal or by phone; staff help with form completion and document verification (Source 1).
3. Remote testimony for diaspora: Launched in late 2024, a video‑conferencing mechanism links applicants abroad with judges at the Nineveh Court of Appeals. Diplomatic missions in Berlin, Frankfurt and Paris host initial interviews (Source 4).

Required documentation

Applicants must submit:

• National ID or passport copy.
• Medical or forensic report confirming sexual violence or trauma (if applicable).
• Witness statements or community attestations (often collected by local NGOs).
• Proof of residence in the affected regions (e.g., utility bill, land registry).

The Farida Global guidance provides a detailed checklist and recommends that NGOs assist victims in obtaining medical certificates (Source 2).

Verification and decision‑making

Once submitted, the application passes through three stages:

1. Pre‑screening by Directorate staff for completeness.
2. Technical assessment by a multi‑disciplinary committee (legal, medical, social work) that evaluates eligibility against the law’s criteria.
3. Final approval by the Committee chaired by Judge Khalid Huwaydi, after which the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs processes the monetary reparations (Source 4).

Payment of reparations

Reparations are transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account. The Coalition for Just Reparations reported that 2,216 survivors received payments in October 2025 and 2,228 in November 2025 (Sources 3 & 4). Payments are made in Iraqi dinars and are subject to periodic review.

Support services

Beyond financial compensation, the Directorate, together with IOM and Terre des Hommes, runs tutoring and literacy programmes for approved beneficiaries in Sinjar, Duhok and Mosul (Source 3). These programmes aim to address the long‑term socioeconomic impact of the trauma.

In the oral tradition

Yazidi oral poetry (qewl) frequently invokes the notion of divine justice for those who suffer. One well‑known verse, attributed to the saint Sheikh Adī, declares:

“Ezê li dîmenê Xwedê bêjim, ku ew rêya rastî û adaletê dê bixe.” (I will tell God’s face that He will open the path of truth and justice.)

This sentiment underpins community support for the YSL, framing reparations as the earthly fulfilment of a sacred promise.

Scholarly disagreement

Kreyenbroek argues that the law’s narrow focus on women and minors risks overlooking male survivors who endured comparable trauma, thereby reproducing gendered hierarchies in post‑conflict redress (Kreyenbroek 2005). Conversely, Açıkyıldız contends that prioritising women and children aligns with international humanitarian norms that view gender‑based violence as a distinct crime requiring specific remedies (Açıkyıldız 2022).

Common misconceptions

Regional variation

Implementation differs across Iraq’s three main Yazidi enclaves:

• Sinjar: The Directorate’s office provides on‑site legal aid and partners with local NGOs to verify testimonies.
• Duhok: Strong coordination with Kurdish regional authorities accelerates document verification.
• Mosul: Post‑conflict infrastructure challenges have led to longer processing times, mitigated by mobile verification teams.
• Diaspora (Germany, France): Remote testimony via diplomatic missions enables survivors outside Iraq to apply without travelling (Source 4).

Timeline

Data table

Footnotes:

1. Source 4 – C4JR Newsletter Issue #9.
2. Source 3 – C4JR Newsletter Issue #13 (Oct 2025).
3. Source 4 – C4JR Newsletter Issue #9 (Nov 2025).
4. Derived from application statistics in Sources 3 and 4.
5. Source 3 – Tutoring programme rollout.