In cooperation with Yazda and Upstream, the American Space at the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) hosted an event on “The Forgotten Voices of Sinjar,” commemorating the genocide committed by ISIL/Da’esh against the Yazidi population of Sinjar, North-West of Iraq, and highlighting the role of immersive technologies in genocide education and prevention.
During ISIL’s genocidal campaign against the Yazidi and other ethnic and religious groups in Iraq and Syria, international crimes were committed en masse, including kidnapping, arbitrary executions, sexual enslavement, and the systematic destruction of religious and cultural sites. Up until today, 2,600 Yazidis remain missing, mainly women and children. 10 years after the genocide committed by ISIL against the Yazidi community, the event underscored the commitment to preserving the memory of past atrocities and educating future generations to prevent their recurrence.
Virtual Reality (VR) presentations experienced by attendees helped foster deeper understanding and empathy toward the victims and made the faces of survivors seen and their voices heard. The VR experience was followed by discussions initiated and facilitated by the Director of AUIB’s American Space, Dr. Rick Roberts, where the audience interacted with representative of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Mr. Adam Sigelman, and UNESCO Chair representative at Baghdad University, Dr. Salah al-Jabri.