Held captive by ISIS, now appointed UN Goodwill Ambassador: Nadia Murad

Yazidi woman Nadia Murad, who survived an ISIS massacre, has now been appointed as UN Goodwill Ambassador on human trafficking. In a first, a survivor of atrocities is bestowed with this distinction, according to the UNOD (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).

Honored to be appointed the @UNODC first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking. @UN https://t.co/HoCmn5TQTV

— Nadia Murad (@NadiaMuradBasee) September 15, 2016

The Yazidi rights activist will take up the position to highlight the atrocities against women and will be working with prominent refugee lawyer Amal Clooney. Together their aim is to rescue other girls, bring them back, and save them from falling prey to the ISIS.

Positive meeting with @RussiaUN Amb. Vitaly Churkin, Rep. of Russia @UN, on accountability for crimes by #ISIS. pic.twitter.com/qzRVgRHaIM

— Nadia Murad (@NadiaMuradBasee) September 14, 2016

Back in 2014 when she was 21, Nadia Murad's life changed completely. She was captured by the ISIS who stormed into her village Mosul, and sold her into sex slavery with nearly 5000 other Yazidi women. Not only was she tortured by the ISIS terrorists and forced into being a sex slave along with her two younger sisters, but also they killed her brothers and father in front of her eyes. However, this turn of events has given a ray of hope.

Also Read: A woman’s place in society by Elsamarie DSilva

Murad dared to escape from the ISIS in November, 2014 and took shelter in Germany with one of her sisters. Nadia's other sister also survived the ordeal and now is in a refugee camp in Iraq with her two surviving brothers.

I have said many words &seen little action, 3500 Yazidis remain under ISIS captivity & most heinous crimes have been committed against them

— Nadia Murad (@NadiaMuradBasee) August 31, 2016

https://twitter.com/NadiaMuradBasee/status/771822097521750016

Now a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Nadia has decided to highlight the plight of the thousands of Yazidi women and children kidnapped, raped, tortured and enslaved by ISIS and fight for their release.  In May, the brave survivor made a passionate appeal to the United States Senate, demanding a wipe out mission against the terror group.

Pleased to speak at University of Win El-Shams and tell the students and faculty, it's on you to end terrorism. pic.twitter.com/kpgYAbvmRR

— Nadia Murad (@NadiaMuradBasee) December 28, 2015

Also read: A Biker, Swimmer and now a Silver Medalist at Rio Paralympics: This is Deepa Malik’s story

She also took a session on human trafficking at the UN last year and called for an international coalition to take on the ISIS. Alongside, Nadia Murad also plays an important role in empowering women in the Yezidi community. She is currently working with the refugee women and dreams to save those girls who couldn’t escape.

Murad was named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2016”.

Feature Image Credit: indiatimes.com

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