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Working Papers Global Migration: Consequences and Responses Paper 2021/79, March 2021 Trauma recovery for Yazidis after the 2014 ISIS genocide: international approaches and policy recommendations Edited by Helena M. Gellersen, Naures Atto & Anamay Shetty Authors Helena M. Gellersen, Jai P. Shende, Imogen S. Davies & Alyssa Ralph This report is commissioned and supervised by the Principal Investigator of EC Horizon 2020 RESPOND project, Dr Naures Atto (Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge), and conducted in collaboration with Polygeia Global Health Think Tank. March 2021, University of Cambridge Project coordinator: Helena M. Gellersen, Anamay Shetty & Polygeia Global Health Think Tank Authors: Helena M. Gellersen (Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge) Jai P. Shende (Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge) Imogen S. Davies (Department of Linguistics, Queen Mary University of London) Alyssa Ralph (School of Medicine, University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust) Editors: Helena M. Gellersen, Naures Atto & Anamay Shetty (University of Cambridge) © University of Cambridge & Polygeia Reference: RESPOND D5.4 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4630643 This research was conducted under the Horizon 2020 project ‘RESPOND Multilevel Governance of Migration and Beyond’ (770564) in collaboration with Polygeia Global Health Think Tank. The sole responsibility of this publication lies with the authors. Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to Helena M. Gellersen ([email protected]) and Dr Naures Atto ([email protected], [email protected]) This document is available for download at www.respondmigration.com Horizon 2020 RESPOND: Multilevel Governance of Mass Migration in Europe and Beyond (770564) 2 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Polygeia Global Health Think Tank for their collaboration on this project, and Molly Gilmour and Cameron Cunningham for providing helpful information on refugee mental health and intercultural psychiatry. Many thanks go out to the representatives of Yazda, as well as to Yesim Arikut-Treece, Gail Theisen-Womersley and Pari Ibrahim from the Free Yezidi Foundation, Nafiya Naso and Michel Aziza from Operation Ezra, and Mr. Farhad Shamo Roto, President of Voice of Ezidi, for taking the time to lend valuable insights into their organisations and their projects supporting Yazidis around the world. 3 Table of Contents LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................................. 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... 7 BRIEF INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 13 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 14 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE YAZIDIS ...................................................................................................... 15 THE KURDISH RELATIONSHIP ................................................................................................................................... 15 2014 ISIS GENOCIDE ............................................................................................................................................ 16 INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE 2014 GENOCIDE .................................................................................................... 18 Aid given to support victims ........................................................................................................................ 18 Recognition as genocide .............................................................................................................................. 18 2. MENTAL HEALTH IN YAZIDI REFUGEES .............................................................................................. 19 4. IRAQ ............................................................................................................................................... 23 MHPSS SERVICE STRUCTURES IN IRAQ ..................................................................................................................... 23 THE IASC GUIDELINES IN PRACTICE ........................................................................................................................... 24 YAZDA .......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Free Yezidi Foundation ................................................................................................................................ 25 HOLISTIC MHPSS ................................................................................................................................................. 26 SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF YAZIDI WOMEN .................................................................................................... 27 SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF YAZIDI CHILDREN .................................................................................................. 28 SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF YAZIDI MEN ......................................................................................................... 30 CHILDREN BORN OF RAPE ........................................................................................................................................ 31 BARRIERS TO MHPSS AND PUBLIC GOODS ................................................................................................................. 31 COVID-19 ..................................................................................................................................................... 33 OUTLOOK ............................................................................................................................................................ 34 Rescue of remaining IS captives .................................................................................................................. 34 Return and rebuilding of Sinjar .................................................................................................................... 34 Yazidis and the Iraqi and the Kurdistan Regional Governments ................................................................. 34 Justice and international recognition of the genocide ................................................................................ 35 CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................... 36 Recommendations for political action and structural improvements ......................................................... 36 5. GERMANY ....................................................................................................................................... 37 YAZIDIS IN GERMANY ............................................................................................................................................. 37 GERMAN REACTION TO THE IS GENOCIDE AND THE REFUGEE CRISIS ................................................................................. 37 MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS OF YAZIDI REFUGEES IN GERMANY...................................................................................... 38 THE SPECIAL QUOTA PROGRAMME ........................................................................................................................... 38 RECEPTION PROGRAMME IN BRANDENBURG............................................................................................................... 40 YAZIDIS OUTSIDE THE SPECIAL QUOTA PROJECT........................................................................................................... 41 GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR REFUGEES IN GERMANY ................................................................................... 41 PSYCHOSOCIAL CENTRES IN GERMANY....................................................................................................................... 42 REFUGEE CHILDREN AND MENTAL HEALTH .................................................................................................................. 43 Schooling...................................................................................................................................................... 43 OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING MENTAL HEALTH .............................................................................................................. 44 Accommodation........................................................................................................................................... 44 Integration ................................................................................................................................................... 44 Access to MHPSS .......................................................................................................................................... 45 APPROACHES TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF MHPSS SERVICES .................................................................................... 45 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES .......................................................................................................................... 48