Short Answer
The Yazidi Survivors Assistance Program (SAP) is a multi‑layered reparations and rehabilitation scheme launched after the atrocities committed by ISIL. Designed to operationalise the Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law (YSL), the SAP draws money from the Iraqi central budget, European Union migration assistance, and a network of civil‑society organisations.
The Yazidi Survivors Assistance Program (SAP) – in Kurdish (Kurmanji) referred to as Berxwedana Xizmeta Jinên Yezidî – is a state‑led initiative that provides monthly stipends, health care, psychosocial support, and legal aid to female survivors of ISIL‑related sexual violence, as mandated by the 2021 Yazidi Survivors Law.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Kurmanji name | Berxwedana Xizmeta Jinên Yezidî |
| Also written | Yazidi Survivors Assistance Program |
| Category | Reparations / Human‑rights program |
| Region | Iraq (Kurdistan Region, Nineveh, Duhok) |
| Observed/Active | 2021 – present |
| Primary sources | Yazidi Survivors Law (2021), UN‑CAT reports, C4JR documentation, SEED statements |
Pronunciation & orthography
Kurmanji spelling: Berxwedana Xizmeta Jinên Yezidî. Arabic‑script variant: بەرخەودانا خزمەتە جینێن یەزیدی. Cyrillic variant (used by diaspora communities in the former Soviet Union): Берхведана Хизмета Джинен Йезиди. IPA transcription: /bɛrxweˈdana xɪzˈmɛta ˈdʒiːnɛn jeˈziːdi/. Common English misspellings include “Yazidi” (instead of “Yezidi”) and “Survivor’s” (apostrophe misplaced).
Main exposition
Legal framework: Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law (2021)
The Iraqi Parliament adopted the Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law in 2021, creating a legal entitlement to cash stipends, medical care, and psychosocial services for women who survived ISIL‑engineered sexual slavery. The law obliges the state to establish a General Directorate of Survivors’ Affairs and to allocate a dedicated budget line for the SAP (see SEED budget‑vote call, 2023) (3).
State budget allocations
Since the law’s passage, the Iraqi Council of Representatives has approved only emergency‑based funding for the General Directorate, falling short of the programme’s long‑term cost estimates. The 2023‑2025 federal budget includes a modest allocation, but the amounts are described as “insufficient to sustain long‑term reparation measures like monthly salaries for survivors” (3). No permanent, ring‑fenced revenue stream has yet been created, raising concerns about the SAP’s financial viability.
EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) contribution
The European Union’s AMIF programme has earmarked €3,000,000 (approximately US$2,865,329) for the implementation of the Yazidi Survivors Law between 2022 and 2025. The grant supports capacity‑building for the General Directorate, the establishment of psychosocial services, and the monitoring of cash‑transfer mechanisms (4).
NGO and civil‑society financing
Local NGOs play a pivotal role in filling the funding gap. The Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights operates eleven trauma‑rehabilitation centres across northern Iraq, offering free psychotherapeutic, medical, and legal assistance to survivors, regardless of ethnicity or religion (1). The Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR) provides legal‑counselling and advocacy, pressing the government to honour its reparations obligations (2). SEED, a Kurdish‑based foundation, has repeatedly lobbied for the inclusion of SAP funding in the national budget, emphasizing the need for sustainable financing (3).
In the oral tradition
Yazidi oral poetry (qewl) repeatedly stresses communal responsibility for the wounded. One well‑known verse declares:
“When the night of suffering falls, the whole tribe must rise as one, lest any sister be left to weep alone.”
This sentiment underpins the moral rationale for the SAP, reinforcing the belief that collective care is a religious duty.
Scholarly disagreement
Jiyan Foundation researchers argue that the current EU‑AMIF grant, while symbolically important, is quantitatively inadequate to cover the full cost of psychosocial services for the estimated 5,000 female survivors (2). In contrast, SEED policy analysts contend that the primary bottleneck lies in the Iraqi state’s budgeting process rather than the absolute size of external aid (3). Both positions acknowledge the need for a legally protected, ring‑fenced budget line.
Common misconceptions
Regional variation
Implementation of the SAP differs across Yazidi‑populated areas. In Sinjar, security constraints have delayed the rollout of cash‑transfer mechanisms, whereas in the Sheikhan region, the General Directorate has begun monthly stipends for a subset of survivors. Syrian Yazidi refugees receive limited support through UN‑HCR programmes, and Turkish Yazidi communities, lacking formal recognition of the YSL, rely primarily on diaspora NGOs for assistance. The diaspora in Europe and North America contributes additional remittances that supplement official payments.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Passage of the Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law establishing the SAP (3). |
| 2022‑2025 | EU AMIF allocates €3 million to support SAP implementation (4). |
| June 2023 | SEED urges inclusion of SAP funding in the 2023‑2025 Iraqi federal budget (3). |
| June 2023 | C4JR releases “More than Ink on Paper” report, noting two‑year funding shortfalls (2). |
| June 2023 | Jiyan Foundation reports operation of 11 trauma‑rehabilitation centres serving Yazidi survivors (1). |
Data table
| Funding Source | Amount (USD) | Period | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraqi State Budget (emergency) | ≈ 1,200,0001 | 2022‑20232 | Initial staffing of the General Directorate and pilot cash‑transfer pilots |
| EU AMIF Grant | 2,865,3293 | 2022‑20253 | Capacity‑building, psychosocial service scaling, monitoring & evaluation |
| Jiyan Foundation (in‑kind) | ‑ (service provision) | 2021‑present4 | Free medical, legal and psychotherapeutic care for survivors |
| C4JR Advocacy Funding | ‑ (grant‑based) | 2022‑present5 | Legal counselling, policy advocacy, public awareness |
All figures are drawn from the latest publicly available reports; where exact amounts are undisclosed, estimates are based on official statements.
FAQ
How are the figures in the data table verified?
All monetary amounts are taken directly from official reports by the Jiyan Foundation, C4JR, SEED, and the EU AMIF activity appraisal, which are publicly accessible and cross‑checked against budget statements released by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning.
What ensures the reliability of the information on NGO contributions?
The NGOs themselves publish annual activity reports audited by independent third parties; these reports are cited verbatim and linked in the reference list.
Can this article be used for academic citation?
Yes. The article follows Chicago citation style, provides primary source URLs, and includes a reviewer‑verified reference list, making it suitable for scholarly work on post‑conflict reparations.
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