Signing of an agreement between France and the International Organization for Migration on welcoming 100 Yazidi women (10 May 2019)

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France and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed an agreement today to admit Yazidi women to France. The agreement was signed by Eric Chevallier, director of the Crisis and Support Center of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Sara Abbas, director of IOM France. The ceremony was attended by 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad.

On December 19, 2018, an initial 16 Yazidi women and their children were welcomed as part of an operation that was coordinated and financed by the Crisis and Support Center of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the Ministry of the Interior and the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons. In all, about 100 Yazidi women and their children will be welcomed to France as part of this exceptional hosting program.

The signing of this agreement reflects President Macron’s commitment to 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad to welcome 100 Yazidi women and their children – direct or indirect victims of Daesh – on French soil. In France they will receive protection, security, education, and medical and social support. This initiative reflects France’s desire to establish facilities, together with the Iraqi authorities, for victims of ethnic and religious violence in Iraq. At the same time, France is working with these populations in Iraq to reestablish favorable living conditions on the ground.