The European Parliament's Conference of Presidents has awarded the 2016 Sakharov Prize to two Yazidi survivors of ISIL, Nadia Murad Basee & Lamiya Aji Basha. Responding, European Conservatives and Reformists group Human Rights spokesman Mark Demesmaeker MEP said:

"All the nominees were very strong candidates, but these women are obviously deserved winners of the Sakharov Prize.

"They both survived the IS terror and form two points of light in a dark age where IS is responsible for the most atrocious human rights violations, genocide and crimes against humanity.

"The two laureates have personally paid a very high price. They both managed to escape from sex slavery, while Murad's family was massacred. Now they show tremendous resilience and courage by acting as a mouthpiece for victims of slavery and human trafficking.

"These women give other victims hope and support, for which they deserve praise. Their election by the European Parliament is an important signal to everyone who is committed to human rights. The international community must ensure that crimes of IS do not go unpunished, and to assist all victims. "

ENDS 

Contact: ECR Press Office, Christina Fogh Rasmussen on +32 475 780819 or Christina-fogh.rasmussen@europarl.europa.eu

The ECR was created to take the EU in a new direction, according to the principles of our founding Prague Declaration.

For more information on the ECR, watch our promotional video at http://youtu.be/F5syQt1JuQI or visit our website: www.ecrgroup.eu