Program areas at Justice for Kurds
Justice for Kurds aims to raise public awareness through conferences, educational initiatives and public events and generate and advance dialogue with constituents, academic communities, thought leaders and think tanks related to the Kurds, foreign policy and humanitarian action.in 2022 the organization hosted and supported many events to reinforce this mission. The most prestigious and high profile was the november 2022 event to bring a delegation to paris to meet president emmanuel macron. On november 11, 2022, Justice for Kurds organized the visit of masih alinejad, ladan boroumand, roya piraei and shima babaei, a group of women activists to meet with the french president about support for the women life freedom movement in iran. The movement was sparked after the murder of a kurdish woman in iran, mahsa amini, and this ignited women's movements all around the world to speak out for women and human rights in iran. Justice for Kurds was proud to host these four extraordinary women and this delegation visit prompted public awareness in the us and in france about the women's plight in this country, specifically in the kurdish regions of iran. Following this event, kurdish activist, roya piraei, was interviewed for time magazine by angelina jolie and her story of survival and courage was shared with millions across the united states.
In the arena of additional events for Justice for Kurds: in march, Justice for Kurds hosted the premiere in California of the film, sisters in arms, by caroline fourest. This film highlights the feminist resistance of kurdish fighters, and their international companions. In the fictional film, an all-female international brigade liberates villages from isis and saves a woman who has been taken into captivity. The film was presented at the american cinematheque in los angeles and was presented in collaboration with the university of California and the french embassy in the united states. With the support of Justice for Kurds, tickets were free to the public and students were given priority access. The event was full and a perfect way to celebrate international women's day. On march 29, Justice for Kurds supported and participated in the annual newroz reception in Washington dc. At this event, kurdish groups and ambassadors joined with leaders of Washington's intellectual community to celebrate kurdish culture, the new year, and the kurdish-american friendship.justice for Kurds participated in supporting the september event at the council on foreign relations with general mazloum abdi, commander of the syrian democratic forces. He gave a critical briefing of the situation on the ground for the Kurds in northeast syria and the changing geopolitical situation in the region, including the rapprochement by many states with the damascus regime, sdf's relationship with u.s. and the future of Kurds in the region. In october, Justice for Kurds supported the kurdish cultural center film festival at the historic village east by angelika theater. The festival features films produced, directed, starring, or featuring kurdish stories and people from across the kurdish diaspora. Kurdish authors, painters, musicians, and dancers perform throughout the event. In december 2022, Justice for Kurds participated and supported a special program and dinner event in nashville with the mayor john cooper and the Tennessee government officials to promote kurdish-american friendship. Nashville is home to the largest community of Kurds in the united states. At this event, the nashville metro council unveiled a historical marker to recognize the contributions of the kurdish diaspora to the city's history and culture. The ceremony to unveil the plaque was attended by members of the kurdish community as well as mayor john cooper, council members, and representatives from the sister cities of nashville, which was in talks with erbil on a sister-city arrangement. This was the first historical marker in north america to highlight Kurds who have made their home in the usa. Since this dinner, erbil and nashville officially became sister-cities and this event was instrumental in cementing support for this initiative.