Yazidi Legal Network

What Yazidi Legal Network does

Yazidi Legal Network (YLN) is a non-profit foundation headquartered at the Amsterdam Law Hub (University of Amsterdam) that pursues justice for the Yazidi community in the aftermath of the 2014 ISIS genocide. Established in 2019 under the Nuhanovic Foundation and formally incorporated as an independent entity in 2021, the organization operates through three programmatic pillars: accountability, recognition, and reparation. Its work centers on legal advocacy, open-source investigations, and survivor engagement across Iraq, Syria, and Europe, supported by a network of 35+ contributors and approximately 12 staff.

YLN's core technological asset is the General Database, a secure system for documenting crimes against the Yazidi community, developed with grant support from the Amsterdam University Fund. The organization has deployed the BIS app in partnership with Global Rights Compliance to digitize field evidence collection, and conducts open-source investigations that feed into international accountability efforts with UNITAD. It convenes survivor-facing events such as the 2024 Yazidi Genocide Survivors' Conference and is planning a Mental Health Support Initiative and a podcast to broaden public engagement.

YLN's business model is donation-based, with 100% of funds directed to programs per its stated commitments. Funding sources include the founding Nuhanovic Foundation, institutional grants (notably the Amsterdam University Fund), and crowdfunding via GoFundMe. Advisory board members drawn from institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the Bar of Ontario lend international-justice credibility, while operational partners include UNITAD, Global Rights Compliance, ICMP, Yazda, and the Free Yezidi Foundation.

Name

Yazidi Legal Network

Legal name

Stichting Yazidi Legal Network

Website

https://yazidilegalnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yazidi Legal Network is a non-profit foundation based in Amsterdam that supports the Yazidi community in seeking justice for the 2014 ISIS genocide through secure crime documentation, open-source investigations, legal advocacy, and survivor capacity building.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Legal Advocacy

NAICS

Investigation and Security Services (5616), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights, Democracy & Rule of Law IGOs (BPADAAAG)

Keywords

• International criminal law
• War crimes documentation
• Human rights advocacy
• Genocide recognition
• Legal capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Yazidi Legal Network relies on donations through GoFundMe campaigns and other fundraising efforts. All donations are transferred to the Nuhanovic Foundation, and 100% of funds raised cover the costs of activities in their two main programs: documentation, research and analysis program and awareness raising and capacity building program.
2. Grant Funding: The organization receives grant funding from institutional donors. The Amsterdam University Fund awarded funding for the General Database project. The Nuhanovic Foundation provides continued support in kind during start up phase and beyond.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Yazidi Legal Network (YLN) assists the Yazidi community in achieving recognition of and accountability for international crimes committed by ISIS in 2014. The organization delivers investigation, documentation, training, capacity building, and advocacy services, building bridges between Yazidi survivors and domestic and international justice mechanisms. It maintains secure databases on crimes against Yazidis and operates programs focused on accountability, recognition, and reparation.

Product overview

Yazidi Legal Network is a human rights organization that operates a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on achieving justice for the Yazidi community. The core offerings include the General Database (documentation of ISIS crimes), open source investigations, training and capacity building, a podcast (Voices of Yazidi), blog content, media outreach, and mental health support initiatives. Rather than a unified software product, YLN provides a suite of services combining research, advocacy, education, and community support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Documentation, Research and Analysis Program A program that populates and maintains databases on crimes committed against Yazidis, supporting national and international authorities in investigating and prosecuting these crimes. Includes open source investigations focusing on the context of crimes and analysis of linkage and leadership structures in perpetrator communities.
• Awareness Raising and Capacity Building Program Training program covering open source investigations, international criminal law, and justice mechanisms, delivered through lectures, training events, and international seminars/webinars. Targets victim organizations, human rights organizations, lawyers, experts, journalists, academics, students, and law enforcement.
• Genocide Recognition Campaign Political advocacy campaign that lobbies national parliaments and policymakers to recognize crimes against the Yazidis as genocide, including open letters and outreach to Dutch politicians.
• Research and Legal Analysis Services Legal and evidential analysis on topics related to crimes against Yazidis, with current focus on corporate accountability and the connection between terrorism and international crimes.
• Mental Health Support Initiative Future project focused on providing mental health support and trauma treatment for Yazidis, cooperating with psychology experts to offer appropriate care.

Quantifiable outcome

• Founded in 2019, with Foundation formally established in 2021
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amsterdam Law HubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021YLN is coordinated from the Amsterdam Law Hub which is part of the Law Faculty of the University of Amsterdam. The Law Hub provides institutional support and academic resources for YLN's operations.
• Global Rights CompliancecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Partnership with Global Rights Compliance for basic training on the Basic Investigative Standards App (BIS) and conducting series of trainings on investigative standards, including the 10 Essential Investigative Rules.
• Nuhanovic FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The Nuhanovic Foundation, centre for War Reparations, established Yazidi Legal Network in early 2019 in response to requests from victims and witnesses based in the Netherlands. The Nuhanovic Foundation provides continued support in kind and serves as the mother organisation for YLN. All donations are transferred to the Nuhanovic Foundation.
• ICMP (International Commission on Missing Persons)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYLN and ICMP co-organized a commemoration for the 2014 genocide against the Yazidis. YLN ambassadors and network learned about the importance of ICMP's work and the use of DNA science and technology in locating missing people.
• YazdacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYLN partnered with Yazda for International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide to bring a lecture on accountability and crimes against the Yazidis with different speakers including survivors.
• UNITADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYLN works with United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD) to support accountability efforts for crimes against the Yazidis.
• Farida Global OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYLN and Farida Global Organization issued a joint statement on the case of German IS-woman Jennifer W., commending the mother for her brave act delivering evidence before the court.
• Emma OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on human rights and advocacy for Yazidi community.
• Gather4HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in humanitarian efforts for Yazidi community.
• Hope Legal ConsultancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner legal consultancy providing expertise in justice and accountability work.
• NL Helpt YezidisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch organization supporting Yazidi community with humanitarian aid and assistance.
• Voice of EzidisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing voice and advocacy for Yazidi community.
• Nobody's ListeningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization advocating for Yazidi rights and recognition.
• Project AbrahamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization based in Toronto working on refugee support and Yazidi advocacy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Syria Legal Network-NL: Co-founded by YLN's General Director Hope Rikkelman; applies the same 'bridge between victim community and justice mechanisms' model to Syrian victims. Near-identical operating model, geography, and legal-advocacy orientation.
• Yazda: Leading global Yazidi advocacy NGO with field operations in Kurdistan Region of Iraq; YLN board member Adel Kheder Khalaf works as a team leader at Yazda. Highly comparable mission, constituency, and documentation focus.
• Emma Organization: Iraqi-Kurdistan-based Yazidi NGO providing survivor support and community services; listed as a YLN partner with closely aligned program areas in survivor assistance and community advocacy.
• Voice of Ezidis: Partner organization providing advocacy and voice for the Yazidi community; runs parallel programming in survivor representation and public awareness, making it a directly comparable peer NGO.
• Nobody's Listening: Partner organization advocating for Yazidi rights and recognition; operates complementary campaigns around genocide acknowledgment and survivor visibility.
• Farida Global Organization: Yazidi women's rights NGO that has co-issued statements with YLN (e.g., the German Jennifer W. case). Overlapping survivor-services and justice-advocacy mandate focused on the same community.
• Project Abraham: Toronto-based refugee support and Yazidi advocacy organization; partners with YLN on cross-border survivor cases. Comparable diaspora-rooted victim-advocacy model.

Broad incumbents

• UNITAD (UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da'esh/ISIL): UN body that YLN directly supports with documentation and whose evidence contributed to the German ISIS conviction. A larger institutional counterpart in the same Yazidi-accountability workflow.
• International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP): Intergovernmental organization co-organizing the Yazidi genocide commemoration with YLN. Operates at much larger scale with DNA-based missing persons methodology that complements YLN's crime documentation.

Emerging players

• Hope Legal Consultancy: Founder-led legal consultancy led by YLN's General Director Hope Rikkelman, providing pro bono and justice-focused legal work. Adjacent service offering overlapping YLN's legal-advocacy clientele.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yazidi-legal-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Yazidi Legal Network