About us

Who we are

We are the umbrella organisation of the Ezidis – also known as Yazidis. We work worldwide to ensure that the Ezidi people, their language and their history are recognised and protected.

An umbrella organisation

Individuals and Ezidi associations unite under the umbrella of the “Congress of the Ezidis Worldwide”. We are a registered association in Germany (Bielefeld District Court, VR 4519).

Independent and peaceful

We are independent of political parties and work exclusively by peaceful means – based on human rights and international conventions.

Political, not religious

We are not a religious association but a political, social, societal and economic one. Our languages are Ezdiki and the language of each country.

What we stand for

Our four core goals

These goals are the yardstick of our work. We have already achieved one of them.

1 of 4 goals achieved

Recognition of the Ezidis as a distinct ethnic group

Political recognition of the Ezidis (Yazidis) as a people in their own right – with their own history, culture and identity, not merely as a religious minority.

Our goal

Recognition of the Ezidi language

Political recognition of the Ezidi (Yazidi) mother tongue Ezdiki – Êzdîkî – as a language of its own.

Our goal

Right to exist and protection status for Ezidis

Securing the right of the Ezidi people to exist and achieving a political protection status for Ezidis.

Our goal

Recognition of the genocide against the Ezidis

Political recognition of the genocide against the Ezidis in Iraq (Shingal) on 3 August 2014.

✓ Achieved – recognised by the German Bundestag on 19 January 2023

What we do

We also stand up for

Through public relations, statements, demonstrations and talks with politicians and authorities, we draw attention to the situation of the Ezidis. The genocides against our people must be recognised and condemned under international law.

  • Preserving Ezidi culture, language, symbols and values
  • Education, women’s rights and support for young people
  • Standing up against racism, war and violence
  • Correcting false information about the Ezidi people
  • Ending the instrumentalisation of the Ezidis for foreign political interests
  • Cooperation with non-Ezidi associations that respect human rights

Ezidis, Êzîdî, Yazidis or Yezidis?

These are different spellings for the same people. In English, “Yazidis” is the most common form. We write “Ezidis” – close to “Êzîdî”, the name our people use for themselves.

From our statutes

Purpose of the association

The purpose of the association is to represent the interests of the Ezidi nation and to preserve and defend it by peaceful means. This purpose is achieved in particular through:

  1. The promotion of science and research, art and culture, education, adult and vocational training including student aid; the promotion of rescue from danger to life; aid for people persecuted for political or religious reasons, for refugees, displaced persons, resettlers, war victims, war survivors, the war-disabled and prisoners of war, civilian victims and people with disabilities, as well as aid for victims of crime; the commemoration of the persecuted and of victims of war and disasters; and the promotion of tracing services for missing persons.
  2. The promotion of international understanding, tolerance in all areas of culture and the idea of international understanding between peoples.
  3. The promotion of equality between women and men and of the protection of marriage and family.
  4. The promotion of crime prevention.
  5. The promotion of the cultivation and study of the homeland and its heritage.

Membership

Any natural person aged 18 or over and any legal entity may become a member, regardless of origin. The board decides on a written application by simple majority at a meeting at its own discretion. If an application is rejected, the board is not obliged to give reasons.

Every member is supported and defended by the Congress and its members. After one year of membership, members are eligible for all positions. Every member is obliged to comply with all resolutions and to support and defend the association in all matters.

Become a member

Board

The board works on a voluntary basis and decides by simple majority. Its tasks include in particular:

  • Preparing the general meeting and drawing up the agenda
  • Convening the general meeting
  • Implementing the resolutions of the general meeting
  • Deciding on applications for membership and on the exclusion of members.
Download statutes & 4 principles

The documents are in German (the membership form is German/English).