Ladies and gentlemen, let me welcome you to the United States institute of peace. We are very pleased to welcome you here this afternoon. My name is bill taylor, the executive Vice President at the institute of peace. Very pleased to be able to cohost this with our friends. We will introduce everyone at the right time, the Kurdistan Regional representative is here and is cohosting. We also have the ambassador from iraq, welcome. Both will have an opportunity to speak to before the Panel Discussion. Three years ago this month, isis targeted many of iraqs minority groups including christians, yazidis, and others in its assault on others in northern iraq. Isis also targeted arabs and kurds in many more areas. Last year, the secretary of state and u. S. Congress, i just last week, the Current Administration labeled as genocide the attack on the yazidis, christians and other groups by isis. Celeste administration, and this demonstration are in agreement and have been very clear. Over the past three years, these communities have faced unspeakable atrocities, including mass murders, sexual enslavement torture. Through the efforts of the Iraqi Government, the carriage he and the u. S. Government and International Community, important progress has been made for liberation emotional and other areas are important accomplishments. Conditions to have religious minorities be able to turn return home. Despite these gains, thousands remained displaced from their homes many have seen the isis assault exacerbate existing conditions and exploit people creating distress, division, and insecurity. These groups to not only suffer at the hands of isis but under the role of Saddam Hussein and from intermittent conflict with other iraqis and continue to fight for their rights as citizens who are working to ensure a safe future. Over the years, the United States institute of peace have supported iraqi minorities to emphasize the vital importance of their voices in local and National Governments for their safety and security of all iraqis. It works to find practical solutions. This is what we do. Do this by working on the ground in iraq and other countries around the world with local partners. So they can become catalysts for peace in their own communities. We been in iraq uninterrupted since 2003 programs in iraq focus on improving relations between and among local communities in various parts in areas liberated by isis to dialogue, inclusion and joint problemsolving. They helped establish the iraqi minorities, coalition of Civil Society that provides a voice for minority groups and works on their behalf in practical terms. This was formed in 2011 and is made up of 13 nongovernmental organizations working to advance the rights of christians yazidis, and other communities. It also serves as a critical voice for iraqi minorities to the International America stakeholders including the u. S. Government, the un, and un National Governments. In 2014 aim worked with you and to convene a National Conference on the rights of iraqi minorities. As well as a roadmap for implementation. Currently, the un in consultation as supporting the drafting process along with equality and antidiscrimination with iraq based on the roadmap in the 2014 declaration of principles. Aim has also supported initiatives by its members to respond to and raise awareness of humanitarian crisis in iraq and minority crisis following isis assault. Currently, the is working for the petite support tory budgeting to increase minority participation in decisionmaking at a provincial level. Its also working to alleviate tensions between christians and shoebox in a plane through series of dialogues informed by the findings of detail assessment completed with assessment from both communities. In addition to that work, i want to acknowledge that Many Organizations and activists, especially those who work in minority groups have done commendable work to bring attention to the needs of minorities and needed support to address those needs. But more work needs to be done. This afternoon we want to focus on the future. Our panel will discuss ways the United States government can support minorities at this difficult time for these groups. This diverse set of speakers is here to discuss some of the complex pieces involved in addressing the future of these communities which form the unique mosaic in the middle east. Will be an interesting conversation. A necessary one at this vertical time for minorities in all iraqis. Before the Panel Discussion we will have remarks from the ambassador and representative from both iraq and the kurdish republic. In the investor has served as iraq ambassador to the United States in washington since january. Prior to his tenure he served as iraq ambassador to france and has held a number of positions in the government of iraq. [applause] the kurdish republic was in 1941 which is part of the federal government of iraq. Because, i have lived it from afar, when you live a tragedy from afar you sometimes feel worse. And i have members of my family there. I remember in 2008 eric schmidt came to visit baghdad and he asked us, what is worse think that saddam did. So some of us answer, another said it was the uprising in 1991. I think the worst legacy of saddam was that we had a choice of these things. Which one to choose. If he had asked us this question in 2014 or 15, we would had one answer, what he did to the yazidis. This is the worst thing that is happened to the 21st century so far. And i hope will be the last such events of its nature. This is a sad thing because iraq is a place of minorities. Based on the letters she gives a very visit description of what she sees when she goes there. It is really a of minorities. Baghdad at the turn of the last century had a plurality of jews who wouldve known that, yet they have left their mark on the iraqi states. This is something we have taken into account when the drafters of the iraqi constitution started working on the job. If you look at our preamble, the elements a plurality the multiple nature of iraq is imprinted there. So this is something we have to live with and we have chosen as a result federal structure that combined us yet take into account all of our diversities. Iraq in 2017 is not the iraq of 2014. The iraqi army of 2017 is not the iraqi army of 2015. The government and the people are not the same. I was recently at a conference in aspen where people talked about the relationships between the United States and america after ten years of war. I have to tell you, for me the real world again in 2014. And its consequences that it really brought all iraqis together. One of the most emotionally charged images of this picture were iraqi soldiers, the Prime Minister, was standing sidebyside before liberated the rest of the areas that have been captured by isis. And it hasnt been easy. It is hard. And i have to tell you, i think the road ahead is even harder. Because we still havent finished the liberation of iraq, we still have to deal with many areas, and that is isis morse into a successor organization, we will have to still keep on fighting it. We have to stand together, but on the issues that it will have to face, the issues that the investor just raised on the status of minorities in iraq, simply put, for most iraqis its really for the Iraqi Government, is not iraq without us minorities. We are not north korea, and their preservation and their active preservation as vibrant, participative members of society with their role in tact and protected is vital and recognized by the constitution. This is why we have parliamentarians representing minorities by constitutionally mandated law and iraq. I really have to give tribute to those standing here who touched the conscious of the world thailand when she raised the issue of her people who are our people and forced us into action. Unfortunately, the world was kind of late. Had the International Community intervened, i didnt think we would be there. So as we move ahead, we will half to content with the liberation of the rest of iraq. But then in parallel when these elements link to each other will have to carry out humanitarian work and stabilization work which will enable people to go back to their homes and villages. Then well need to engage in reconstruction. Stabilization and the humanitarian work is actually going on remarkably well. These are not my words, their words of the United Nations court nader who heads an incredible lady. She has recently in washington stated what is being done in iraq is really a method of model to be applied in later humanitarian action. One thing she said that affected me because for a very part of its history the very first part of the iraqi army were the eight iraqi people. She said for the first time in her humanitarian work had an army put into its strategic and tactical objectives and priorities, the preservation of civil by. This is one of the reasons why say the iraqi army is not the iraqi army of 2014. Anyway, we have to complete our stabilization of the liberated areas and then engage in the construction. And there the demands are humongous. I dont think anybody has come up with a good figure. I look forward to a conference but our neighbors are planning to hold beginning 2018 to try to help us do that. We look beyond that our neighbors but beyond that, we will have to look at the issues of governance. For that, the threat trend in the politics that you see in iraq have the intentions of the government are distinct. There is a genuine will towards decentralization. Not only because its the right thing to do, but because its the efficient thing to do. Nobody has governed better when people govern themselves. This is what his plan. We intend to have elections next year i have to say that iraq has two contradictory expertise is where they are the best in the region. One is the Counterterrorism Services anonymously, american officers has said this, not me, theyre probably the best and i have to get through to them because the casualty rate has been in excess of 30 , unheard of. The others are electoral commissions, elections in iraq and a lot of people have recognizes have been fair and free. With an outcome that is not always known. A rarity in the region is a lot of people would say. So well have to deal with the issue of governance. That will be done. But, beyond all of this i think one issue that is of prime importance for us to deal with is this issue of justice. People have been wronged. And i remember came to visit france in august of 2014. And i asked him what was the thing that was prime on his mind and he said the problem that i have is preventing young yazidi men from seeking revenge. And god knows what happened to them. But this is a prime thing we have to deal with. So this is one of the reasons right we work that u. S. Aig has done. And with regard to the massacre. But i have to know, to have been iraqi efforts here to watch this. Of particular note is a project by a Parliament Member from most. She decided to look at what has been done in terms of reconciliation and to establish social justice and social peace in the world and she came up with a plan which i thought was brilliant and in need of support. If there any donors out there please call her up. The idea was to going canvas the cities that are liberated and test people what their grievances were. If for example they had been subjected to Something Like murder or worse. Then it would be put on a judicial track. If it be Something Else like confiscation of property, then there be some compasses torre mechanism. If not the maybe some things that they do well. With incentives to say stay on the track. Then she went to rounded shot her proposal around to various numbers of parliament from the province which is the most diverse in iraq and she got an endorsement from all the women members, its a woman led effort which i sleep. I hasten to say that the Iraqi Parliament has a 25 of its congress that are women. So justice is not an easy thing to do and we will need your help to do that. Beyond that, we will need to heal the survivors. We will need a massive effort and psychological assistance. I think all the iraqis are subject to ptsd, myself included. With varying degrees, and im a mild form. This is something that we need your help with. If you allow me, im going to read to something i wrote the International Community could do to help iraq. The iraq needs the help of experienced human rights organizations, medical and legal and donor agencies. In human Rights Groups must be formed. These organizations serve to establish Human Rights Centers and all c cities. It should be formulated and implemented. Iraq and laura should be trained in how to document and followup. They should be trained in how to prosecute them. Iraq is psychologists should then how to counsel survivors. And the Iraqi Government should help with the framework for all this to happen. This cannot happen without a conservative effort. As i wrote this in may of 2003 when the mass graves were discovered first and still a. 0. We have even more pressing cases. As opposed what happened earlier now the wound is extremely raw. If it is not dealt with quickly it will fester. [applause] thank you. Second speaker has served as representative of the curtis Regional Government. Of iraq since 2015. Prior to her u. S. Appointment choose the high representative to the united kingdom, also elected to the Leadership Council in 2010. Please welcome the representative to the podium. [applause] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] i have no idea what that was about. So, good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Ambassador taylor, distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen, then please set the cared she has been able to partner with u. S. Institute for peace in this discussion. As we honor all those were killed, raped, enslaved, injured, or in any way harmed by isis. We must never forget the crime that isis committed three years ago when it rampaged across iraq. And particularly on august 3, 2014 when it targeted parts of we must do all that we can to help the victims to restore their homes and livelihood and bring to justice the criminals who committed those crimes. When isis struck that hurt all of the components that make up iraq. Not a Single Community was left unscathed. However, it is the minority super the brunch. Especially the christians in eusebius. The cared she has taken several steps, the Regional Government was the first government to recognize isis crimes is genocide. In 2014, the cared she had community for Gaming International recognition submitted a genocide article 15 communication to the International Criminal courts. In april 2015, sadly the prosecutor declined to formally open a preliminary examination into the situation. But, we continue to encourage the United Nations, iraq, another member countries to open an investigation and create in International Hybrid tribunal. The carriages Prime Minister, his office and our Security Forces have helped rescue 3092 yazidis. That is 3325 remain in captivity. The cared she has opened a rape victim center, possibly the first of its kind in iraq. The medical, psychological and social support is available to the victims of rape. We have protected and provided shelter for hundreds of thousands of yazidis. And we have provided resources to Christian Churches and communities to fight isis. Our forces have eliminated thousands of square kilometers, one taken by isis. Whether 1750 pesce murder have been killed in close than 11000 has been injured. There pass laws and includes articles in its draft constitution that protect the rights of all people of all faiths and backgrounds but we recognize its not enough we need to accept that society evolves and demands change. For example, we have a system of allocating a quota to the minorities in the curtis and parliament. Some are calling for the allocation to be widened. This should be studied and carefully consider so that the inclusivity that we are proud of his maintains an enhanced. This is just one example. What about the broader picture outside of curtis stand . The rest of iraq . What do we need to do to enable people to live a reasonable life . I dont speak of reinstating trust since trust was lacking before isis came and is not out of reach in the near future. It is more realistic to speak of security, stability, protection. The steps we need to take her many in iraq and some of the first, justice and accountability. We need the International Community to step up and say, never again that will allow the perpetrators to have justice. They should answer the call to the United Nations members and allow an investigation of isis crying. The cared she was the first to recognize the crimes against christians and others is genocide. We commend the government of the United States and others for doing the same. The question is, whether we allow the recognition of genocide to be the only stop for the First Step Toward