The Duchess of Edinburgh attends “The Women Who Beat ISIS” travelling photo exhibition

The Duchess listened to a panel discussion on the Yazidi Genocide and pathways to recovery, hearing from Yazidi survivor Awaz Abdi on her personal experience as a then 10-year-old and the devastating impact to her family at the hands of ISIS. 

Saeed Qasim Sulaiman, from the Farida Global Organisation, spoke about the pain behind the exhibition and the importance of telling these stories, and speaking with survivors, not about them. Farida Global Organisation is a non-profit organisation founded and managed by survivors of the Yazidi genocide and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), who have been advocating for the rights of survivors since their escape from ISIS captivity. Farida Global aims to give voice and support to survivors and their communities in a participatory, survivor-centric, culturally sensitive, and psychosocially informed manner.

Hamish Falconer MP, Minister for the Middle East, welcomed Her Royal Highness, the survivors and guests which included representatives from the Yazidi community, civil society, survivors of conflict related sexual violence, and active parliamentarians on this issue, including the Iraq All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

The Duchess was invited to make closing remarks at the end of the panel discussion in which Her Royal Highness thanked Ms Abdi and Mr Sulaiman for their bravery in speaking and she paid tribute to the survivors who have contributed to the exhibition and continue to draw attention to the ongoing devastation caused by conflict related sexual violence and its legacy.

The Duchess then joined Yazidi survivors to view the exhibition in Durbar Court, inside the FCDO. “The Women Who Beat ISIS” is a travelling photo exhibition by Farida Global Organisation that tells the stories of survivors of the Yazidi genocide and has been exhibited in cities around the world including Berlin and the Hague. 

Photographs document the genocide and its on-going consequences for survivors. Text panels place the historical events in socio-cultural, religious and socio-economic contexts. Testimonies by witnesses, as well as life-historical and autobiographical reports of the portrayed survivors, refer to the genocide and its consequences for survivors, for their families and for the Yazidi community. The focus is particularly on the courage and strength of those portrayed.

This event falls within the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign runs every year from 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10th December, Human Rights Day. 

Read more about Her Royal Highness' work to support women in conflict around the world.