(New York, 17 September 2015) United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict today met in Germany with two girls from the Yazidi community who had been held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The girls, aged 15 and 11, were brought to Germany over the summer in a special programme through which they have received medical and psychosocial support, and plan to resume their schooling.

Special Representative Bangura originally met the girls during her visit to Iraq, Syria and the neighbouring countries in April, looking at how sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war and tactic of terrorism. She met also with leaders of the Yazidi community who are working to trace women and girls in ISIL captivity and secure their return to families.

“I am so proud of these girls, of their courage and strength,” the Special Representative said following the reunion. “The change in them from our first meeting in Lalish is remarkable. They are filled with hope for the future again. That is the greatest blow they could have dealt to ISIL.”

The Special Representative wanted to see how the girls are adjusting to their new lives, and is also discussing with Yazidi leaders how the United Nations can support their efforts to trace girls held in ISIL territory and bring them home.

She added that “it is important that we support such initiatives and all efforts to enable women and girls fleeing ISIL to return home without stigma and shame.”

The Special Representative also met with German officials and commended them on the assistance being provided: “The leadership of Germany in this, and in accepting refugees from Syria in general, is an example of solidarity and humanity that I hope other countries will follow.”

The Office of the Special Representative is developing a multi-sectoral strategy to address conflict-related sexual violence in the Middle East. A key aspect of the strategy is to ensure that protection and empowerment of women and girls is included as a central consideration in all efforts on preventing (violent) extremism and countering terrorism.