puree, sesame. tarts, black sesame macaroons, and finally -- what did i forget -- the triple layer all meant take. thank you very much and have a nice weekend. announcer: the u.s. chamber of commerce is one of the first stops the singapore prime minister will make when he visits washington, d.c., this week. we will have remarks live monday at 6:30 p.m. eastern on c-span. announcer: d c-span bus isn't the little fear, pennsylvania this week asking people about the democratic convention and the issues most important to them in the 20 16 presidential campaign. >> i am valerie, the superdelegate for cleveland -- hillary from cleveland, the great city in ohio.

i am proud to be part of this historic moment. and 2006 i had the opportunity and in 2008 to be part of the convention to nominate the first african-american president and i look forward to doing it again, elect. go ohio. go hillary. >> i am a delegate from the san fernando valley supporting hillary. i could be more excited to support the first female candidate for president. i really care about women's issues and politics and i know she is the most qualified candidate for president's i could not be more excited. >> i am at the ohio delegation conference at the dmc. the most important for me as the supreme court. the nextquences for four years from the election but 20,eme court can last 10, 30 years. so that is important for me. shaping the policies for

generations to come. congressional district 22. my delegate experience has been i have for and opening. i feel like i am witnessing the death of democracy. i do not feel included. i do not feel like my voices heard. i am very concerned for the future of my country for my daughters and granddaughters. the revolution continues. >> hi, i am from orange county california and having a great time as a delegate. i'm here because my grandmother, my mother, my wife, my daughter, and of course my baby, migrant baby who is six months old. it is so important to break the glass ceiling. >> voices from the road on c-span. >> next, a look at the thread isis poses to religious and

ethnic minorities. this was hosted by the religious freedom project. it is two hours. >> good morning ladies and gentlemen. welcome to the campus of georgetown university. they queue for joining us for this important conference on one of the important issues of our day, the continuing threats to religious and ethnic minorities under the so-called islam extent. i am director of the berkeley centers for religion freedom at georgetown. where delighted to be hosting this event with the support of our colleagues at the office for international freedom of the u.s. department of state. as you can see from your programs, we have a full day-long agenda. a vigorous andou stimulating discussion of one of the most profound issues of our day. one with deep humanitarian

implications for the victims of isis genocide as well as strategic implications for the west and the united states. ie forward began, if i might, want to say a word about the religious freedom product that church sound. greater that the berkeley center in 2011 and in 2014 we welcomed a new strategic partner. foror institute press studies of religion under professor brian johnson. the rfp is the only university-based center for the study of religious freedom in the world. our goal is to research and disseminate knowledge about religious freedom, what it is and why it is important for every person religious or not. for religious community, societ, and state. freedom isreligious important for international justice, stability, and peace.

if one is a religious believer, to act on the basis of belief in the public life of one's nation both as an individual and as a member of a religious community. religious freedom is as weak understand it not merely a private right to worship. it entails the right to engage in civil society, is this, politics on the basis of one's religious beliefs. religious liberty is not a mere people butivilege by rather a pillar of stable development,ual and flourishing. particularly germane to our conference today the evidence is clear, the absence of religious freedom contribute significantly

to the rise of and sustaining of violent religious extremism and terrorism. the presence of religious religiousn undermine extremism and terrorism. unfortunately notwithstanding it is important that religious freedom is in global crisis. according to the pew research center, three quarters of the world lives where religious freedom is nonexistent. that is three out of four human beings on the planet. outside of the west as today's conference will attest, those restrictions are often characterize my vial and violent persecution of religious minorities. where violentt, persecution is not the norm and please god never will be, the that burnetthow restrictions and social hostilities toward religion are the rise.

including in the united states of of america. our goal at the religious freedom project is to raise the profile of this issue here and abroad. we want to change the conversation among the people who can do something about the crisis but who we believe are not showing sufficient attention. that is government officials, the media, the academy, and civil society in general. we do our works in teams of workshops, consultations with governments, congressional testimony, media appearances, conference such as this one here and a vigorous web presence including social media. in all activities we seek to engage not only religious believers but secular society in general and in particular the skeptics. in a very real sense ours is an attempt to conduct a conversation about religious

freedom, especially those who do not share our views. me mention briefly the creation of a new religious freedom initiative called "the religious freedom institute." the first thing to be said is that georgetown's rfp will continue at the berkeley center under its current leadership. but the three of us are also launching a new independent initiative, the religious freedom institute. we will be joined next month by kent hill from whom you will fare later this afternoon. he is senior president of international programs at world vision and will soon depart that and become the executive director of the religious freedom institute. if you want further information, please see me or go to our website. conference.

i have already noted the evidence strongly suggests a global crisis in religious read them. nowhere is the evidence more palpable and troubling to the inscience of the world than iraq and syria. in march 2016, the u.s. house of representatives of the later the senate and secretary john kerry declared that the islamic state is committing genocide against your cds, muslims, and other religious and ethnic andrities in cd -- syria iraq. other groups continue to target and terrorize their victims through torture, rape, and slave meant, murder, forced

immigration. they also continue to engage in the systematic campaign of looting and destroying religious and cultural sites including houses of worship. today you are going to hear from representatives of the target communities. their personal experiences of persecution and their recommendations for u.s. policy makers and western policy makers in general. among the questions they willing gauge include, what are the immediate security challenges posed by isis to the region. to the west? to the united states? what can we do now to ensure the forility in the future vulnerable communities interact and syria. how is religious freedom a possible antidote to future? series ofear from a

distinguished policymakers, advocates, and scholars. let me turn now to one of the most distinguished of the policy makers, my friend and colleague. in september last year, he was named the state department's first advisor for religious minorities in the middle east and south and central asia. we are delighted to have them with us today. [applause] theelcome everyone to opening of our two-day series of meetings focusing on threats. i want to thank the doctor and his team here at the religious freedom program at georgetown university to today and our partners, the u.s. holocaust memorial museum and the u.s. institute for p7 the next couple days.

religious and ethnic minorities have suffered violence and discrimination for years but the aesh introduced new risks. together in our joint condemnation of the atrocities daesh has committed. atrocities against majority populations in these communities. we assert religious rights be respected for all groups and we are meeting out of a shared desire to find ways to do more to take action to ensure that iraq and syria's his store religion pluralism remains to see that the rights of individuals both men and women are respected as equal citizens and have a hand in determining the futures of.

in march, secretary kerry made a theyment that he believes are committing atrocities and recognized extreme suffering as well as atrocities against the sunni-- the kurds and muslims. i want to thank those of you here today who played a vital role in providing information that helped us come to that decision. but secretary kerry's statement was more than words. it was a call to action. i call to action to help these agent communities. in a statement built upon the words and actions of president obama that we saw the president's commitment to religious diversity in protecting the rights of minorities when he authorized the airstrike almost exactly two .ears ago to rescue as well as when the white house last or can made it to holding a meeting today focusing on the way to protect religious and

ethnic communities. so we are convening today and tomorrow at the state department is a concrete expression of ofcern about the future it the ethnic minorities in iraq and syria. we're closer to seeing the liberation of muscle. mosul. to give theseone minorities confidence they have a future in their homelands. we're bringing people together to discuss just that. how can the international community more effectively meet this existential challenge for minorities. we want to understand the needs, devisey the gaps, and concrete responses. tomorrow more than 25 different countries will meet at the state department. many of the ambassadorial level. from north america, across europe, the arab world, representatives of the european

union in several united nation offices. deputy secretary of state anthony blink and will give opening remarks and be followed by general lieutenant terry wolf, the special envoy to the coalition to counter isil. but before they meet tomorrow, we wanted to hear from impacted communities and ngos to understand their concern about the future of religious diversity in iraq and syria are violence.sh we want to hear voices from the region before tomorrow so we've worked to have a a day dedicated to hearing your ideas for meeting challenges. as a result, many members of the diplomatic corps with us today as well as a diverse iraqi delegation which i think is a sign of international concern. our ngo friends, additional voices we could've included but we are limited in time and we packed the agenda.

however, i think the panel will present many distinct points of views, sometimes in conflict, that will spur discussion and generate new ideas to respond. i want to note our effort is in partnership with france in continuation of the french initiative launched last year. the security council was convened in march 2015 to shine aesh abuses. and there was a ministerial meeting in paris and the united states participated. the paris meeting resulted in the paris action plan which highlighted steps governments help.ke to the united states views the paris action lands is a useful roadmap for action. we've welcomed other action such as the conference organized by athens and greece last year.

as well as the declaration regarding the rights of religious minorities. i also want to stress we are deeply, deeply concerned about all who have suffered under da esh's reign of terror. shia muslims have been executed simply because they are shia. we stand for the france will one life is not more valuable than even while we recognize unique and existential threats leasing religious and ethnic minorities. the paris action plans that a well, "beyond the solidarity that must benefit all victims of solidarity is a pressing need to preserve those cultures and peoples whose very existence is threatened in iraq and syria. "

we want to build momentum towards a conference that spain has committed to hold later this early 2017, something like a conference where countries can, and announce new initiatives for training or programmatic funding. but i want to be very clear. the protection of religious and ethnic minorities in iraq and syria is a foreign priority in the united states. we are constantly discussing internally what more the united states can do. toward that end, we are new actions right now. we are partnering with the smithsonian institution to launch a new program next week which will assist communities in northern iraq with their cultural preservation needs. we are developing materials to train on identifying mass graves and cultural heritage sites and they can be prepared for whatever role to play in the liberation of mosul.

identifying potential mass graves behind daesh frontline so they can preserve and protect those sites. these programs, programmatic work that has provided direct assistance to as the and religious minorities in iraq. the stakes could not be higher. a multitude of faiths, many that have existed for a millennium or call syria and iraq, and face the real possibility of disappearing from these areas. since 2003, the push of extremist violence has resulted in the exodus of over one minute christians and tens of thousands from iraq. many including small groups, suffer. minority and religious communities and syria are also under pressure after repeated attacks and the still-kidnapped

iranian bishops tell us. have been working with my colleagues in washington and around the world to address the challenges facing minorities in the region. the united states is doing a lot. later today, and ambassador will give a full description of our actions. do itnot, we must not, alone. why? because the challenges facing a stretch beyond the capabilities of any one of organization. the end, they are an affront to the values that undergird our societies. working against us. during my trip to iraq earlier this year, i showed the vibrancy of what is left of these communities but also that they live a precarious and fragile existence. i visited a town about 30 miles north of mosul and a christian town which is currently occupied by daesh.

we heard about how the dispersed community may not return. hundreds of using these are leaving iraq every week to seek safety and better opportunities in other areas. we also heard how they would prefer to stay in iraq if they .an do so in safety from these visits, i came away with a stark sense that we are at a pivotal moment in history. the door of these communities can close forever. however, the door is not close jet and through concerted effort we can push the door back open but we must act and we must act with our friends and allies. the fight against -- has been difficult and is not over. next are will be decisive. yet, the day grows closer would for liberation.

once daesh is gone, they must focus to the task of winning these. reconstruction across the board. reconciliation. respective rights. justice. international community, we need to develop a better plan to assist these communities with these challenges. them to coalesce around forming the vision for future. there are diverging views on the best way to preserve. disagreement is natural, it can be constructive if it leads to better ideas. if disagreement becomes division, it in communities, it would be costly.

would make it more difficult for the international community to assist. the 20th century witnessed mass movements of people with millions fleeing extreme violence targeted against some due to religious or ethnic identity. the question for us all is whether we can reverse this 21st in a still-new century. can these conditions be recreated to give minorities help in the future. a rack and syria will be a great test for that. -- iraq and to syria will be a great test for that. hopefully from this discussion today and tomorrow we will take a step forward on a new that respects human rights, equal citizenship, religious freedom, and religious tolerance. they you very much. [applause] >> we will get started with our first panel.

>> i would like to thank the center and the state department for hosting the discussion. it is an honor and deeply humbling to be here. also deeply disappointing because it means we have failed to prevent genocide crimes against humanity and ethnic

cleansing in iraq and syria. it also means we failed to protect those communities adequately. it means we are failing to assist them as we struggle to find ways to protect the communities in what has been now two years of exile. said ofa remarkable speakers. people i have met on trips to northern iraq. people who carried the difficult giving voice to their community and serving them. to take care of their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. it is a deep honor to hear directly from you. i am going to introduce each of the speakers. is the bishop of the assyrian church of the east presiding over the diocese of california. a secretary of the syrian church of the east and a trustee

of the east organization. he is a president of the commission on interchurch relations and educational development. he is also an author. theologys on the regarding the seven sacraments. he obtained a ba from loyola college and a second bn sacred theology from the university of st. mary on the lake. he later received a doctorate from a university and rum. also we have the official representative of the leader of ziti -- addressing human rights, genocide. work in manchester,

u.k., and diplomat with the iraqi minister of affairs. diplomatic institute and baghdad, he received his ba from the university. the founder of a charitable clinic and humanitarian organization which serves to help displaced people interact and kurdistan. he is a professor. he joined the seminary of st. peter and baghdad in 1997 was ordained into the priesthood in 2004. in 2012, he was assigned as .dministrator and dean he served until 2013. he also served as vice vector at st. peter's seminary. a phd in philosophy

2012 at a gregorian university and a master's in philosophy in 2009 from a university. ba from a university in rome. deep honor to speak with each of you. everyone remembers the facts but we should reiterate them again. even though we are talking about crimes committed by the islamic state currently, what we are dressing as a failure to prevent attacks on minority communities and if taken place of ray decade and northern iraq. he tween june and august of 2014, 10% of the population in minority and were religious. were committed. two years later, these communities remain in exile and challenges.

with that i wanted to start the conversation by asking if interview would be willing to speak to what some of the specific daily challenges that your organizations are facing in terms of well-being. perhaps you could begin. >> thank you very much for -- i want to tell everything exactly. if i could speak big or kurdish it would be better for me to tell what i mean. yes. -- uld like to i wish to convey to you -- who

were still waiting for the help they would need to have a place to suit them in this world. and we wish that the words and emotions will turn into ideology on the ground. all of the small communities are all in the same boat when it comes to the current catastrophe.

especially -- the persecution that happened to these communities has a great impact across the world because of the horrors that they suffered. this was the first time in centuries that we went back to the time of enslavement. up to 700 women are objected to instead. abducted to this day.

kills andization rapes his women, and sold them. without any serious action taken in order to reverse this happening. on the third of august 2 years ago, a major attack -- the group. befell they are still feeling this to this day.

it was on that day that isis took over the land, took their homes, took -- killed them, force them to flee. they are still living in refugee , northernurkey kurdistan. the humanitarian conditions are beyond belief. they are waiting for the moment they can go back to their homes.

they are also suffering from a among where they are living now. iraq followingn throws a longis shadow of darkness. this issue calls for actions by the international community in the way of support to help and preserve the dignity of the victims.

there are 80,000 people being forced out of their homes. these are the demands of the easy the community. providing international yazidis, ther the

christians, and other minority communities. bringing those who committed these crimes to minority communities to international courts. ieferring the file of the yazid case to the international court through the un security council

to be adopted or presented by the united states based on on the federal statutes for the international courts on the basis of the fact that the united states has recently decided that isis is committing crisis -- crimes of genocide. first -- wyoming for zero from the other panelists from the other challenges that are being experienced in other communities on the ground and then we can talk about the steps that can be taken. that was incredibly powerful, thank you. bishop, can you reflect your challenges that your community facing in iraq and syria? >> first a want to say good morning to all of you, i would like to thank the state department and the berkeley

center here at georgetown for putting this for them together. 2014 i was part of a delegation of bishops representing our patriarch to visit our communities and other christian communities in hadhern iraq that undergone all the atrocities and displacement from mosul. personally as a bishop and faster was a great loss of hope. people had not lost only their homes and properties, but there was a great loss of hope. a great loss of confidence in the system. a little over

-- 000 christians camps, werein living in tents provided by the u.n. or some other christian ngos. was a peopleenced that were really broken. not merely spiritually, materially, but had no future to look towards. little into the eyes of children. i remember speaking into the eyes of a young christian couple -- speaking with a young --istian couple, most soul was really devastating. what impresses me in about the churches on the ground is the

humane and humanitarian aspects about this. i add that i think -- i would like to recognize our friends and brothers who are considered yazidiies such as the and kakai. i think i communities two years after this tragic event, they are still in survival mode. which is not good in any community to live under for an extended amount of time. i think that notion of being in survival mode and not knowing next, going to come

there's no sense of future. i think what is also so apparent . most older generations, there's a fear of cultural loss of what will happen when the children go to germany and france. because they see no future at home. muchere on the ground very in your day to day work speaking to those who it been displaced, who it felt a sense of despair. when i first met you, you were in a medical clinic seeing immediate realities of what this looks like. can you speak about some of the challenges. ? >> i agree completely with the bishop. i would like to add something.

i'm going to tell you briefly some points about the reality of christians living in the north. we will talk about where their living in kurdistan. -- stians 90,000.- now we are they are blocked in jordan and lebanon.

they cannot go back to iraq because of the situation. back to the housing problem. you can find three kinds of housing for christians. one group is living in camps. the church has .rovided a container three, 4, 5 people are living in very small containers. the situation is miserable. some families are living in houses rented by the church. thechurch with the help of

ngos provided houses for families, not a house for each family. sometimes a family could contain more than five people. for maybe 20 or 25 people. another part are living in houses provided by themselves. they are paying for rent in houses by themselves. regarding the food problem, also the church and other ngos

food.e some of these ngos have stopped their work, so we need in -- we have an urgent need for these things. we have provided two health care of theake health issue. we receive every day about 500 patients. we have another health center in

with another diocese. we distribute a chronic disease medicine. this is also a big issue. this is a problem -- many families try to get work in kurdistan. everyone knows that the huge quantity of refugees and idp in may be was very difficult -- made difficult for

people to seek work there. many families have no work. ending sources are they cannot pay more for their rent, they cannot pay more for an operation. they cannot pay for their medicines. if the fathers of some families go to work in kurdistan -- they work, but nobody is getting money. say, theregoing to is an urgent need for housing.

recently at the catholic we were looking to resolve this problem, they're going to see how. thispe they can resolve problem as soon as possible. urgent need to the idp, there those with serious health problems like cancer, they have medicine. $500have to spend between to $1500. we have a huge number of people infected -- infected. make registration the percentage of people.

we had 92 cases of cancer. we need support for mobile climate. we need to find a solution for thousands of christian families blocked and lebanon and jordan. >> for those 11 seen the containers that the father was mentioning. i think it's a to say that this stage is about the size of what are in the containers terms of length. certain cancer people are still

living in tents. campus of people are still living in tents. you highlighted the fact that these are -- there are ongoing physical threats. 0 women still being held as sex slaves. wonder, many of the people who stayed in term of the christian community, they wanted to stay in iraq, they still wanted to stay. they are so many members of the family leave. i wanted to talk about that .hallenge some are concerned about whether or not leaving the region means they will be ending their

communities. can you speak to those kind of challenges? >> the thing is, one thing that the assyrian church tried to do as an expression of keeping our ties to the homeland is that last year when we elected our new patriarch. after a span of 83 years, the patriarch came back to iraq. for us, that was a significant event not only as a religious occasion, but it was a sign of trying to give hope to our faithful and to all the minorities that are suffering to say that even though the direction is to go the opposite way, the church is going back. we realize there are struggles and the realize there is a lot thated and a lot of things

our people are facing. it is necessary to give our people hope. over.ople are all with thousands of families from different domination -- denominations. the question is how to convince them, at the end is a moral decision that everyone has to make, obviously our churches don't want people to leave. the question is how do we convince them not to leave. there needs to be infrastructure to provide them with the basic human and family needs to allow them to remain. i think there's a lot that needs to be done in collaboration with the local governments of the country to further opportunities

to see that and to regain hope. i mentioned two months after isis had entered the nineveh , i went to the various camps are living in caravans now. if we get at was visa, we will leave tomorrow morning. we will not stay. so how do you change that ontology? confidencee people and hope that they should be tied to their homeland? it is a difficult thing. anyone government, church or agency has the answer to that. collectively, we can have the answer to that. people hope practically, jobs, stability. security, people are worried about security. l leaves or is forced

to leave, what will happen after that? a letter was sent saying if our lands aren't fully liberated answer -- and an existence of a strong government isn't secured, it will be very difficult for christians to survive in iraq. i'd like for you to speak on the conditions that would give people hope and to make people feel secure. some areas have been liberated, very few people are returning home. isis still controls much of nineveh plains making it tough for communities to return home.

what are the concerns around security? what do people need to feel safe to return home? -- get the yazidi to trust the government? you have to make resolutions for

the has its government, for the security council and tnited it.ons to action icc to to get the open the case. you have to push the iraqi .overnment to open thethem for the icc coming to iraq.

when we say the kidnapped, more .han 3770 up to now mosul.e to go to after the liberation of the government in nineveh.

the iraqi government together with the government of kurdistan and the american government must work together to find a way of liberating these women and rehabilitating them. the iraq government must change some of its -- they must pass new laws in order to protect minorities. and must involve and integrate dis in all of

government. such are that catastrophe would not be repeated again. the yazidis who have been .isplaced and are now refugees all the ucd's live outside the 80% -- 5000 refugees are in greece. we are calling on the european union to open the way for the

greeces increase -- in to go to america. and to start reconstruction. so for you the major criteria requirements for people to feel they can go home is in regards to security forces for international protection for calling for accountability? you also spoke of the importance of the constitutional protection iraq and toseek

refugee status. aboutre your thoughts what it means to create safe conditions? >> the future or the hope means what will happen on the ground for christians. there is the international force to bring them to their houses. that is concerning but the most important thing is to talk about that period post isis that is the most important thing. to help us to stay in our land means if they are liberated to talk about christians there should be documentation and presentation of the crime of genocide against religious minorities. so thank you for that declaration of genocide so we are waiting for the declaration.

from the u.n. and especially government.qi safety and peace for minorities. christainscept as

to be under muslim custody as we were before. it is strange if you see christian cities governed not by others.ns but the government should help the citizens not itself. something to say yeah. why as other christians

ask for the international protection we cannot attract more of the iraqi government or the iraqi army officially after what happened. of these religious minorities as a gift will be demand for the criminal investigation to punish all those who have participate in the genocide against minorities. so we cannot accept for those that govern of a country the christians had suffered for a long time and that was most dangerous and isis. the christians have suffer for long time before the isis.

isis.angerous than historicalin our cities. this issue is very very resolved as ae result during the saddam hussein's government and will continue after 2003 by the government's place in order to realize the region for other minorities. not christians if you go to christian cities and villages to see by yourselves how the government did their best to

empty the cities of christians problems. church was 2009 the attacked. just onet happen for time. liekve problems everyday that type. leftis why young people iraq. can i ask a question.

it was so common in the conversations if we're leading to the deep distrust by many of the minority communities and also when isis was attacking given the fact there are minority communities and given the fact that many christians from mosul and those referred to their arab brothers to feel a deep distrust towards who are their neighbors also the politicalusts to the actors that were to be entrusted to protect them. how do you tackle that to create an environment with reconciliation but political guarantees of protection? what is the role of religious leaders in the process?

haveank you, i think you very important aspect and that is dialogue. i do not htink there is dialogue. dialogue means all those talking are dialoguing. and all of those that are speaking their look for a common

solution to a common problem. so maybe forming some sort of a council by those religious and ethnic minorities that are affected from isis is a practical step that not only can they speak together or understand each other then they can make those claims before the ground and even international agencies. so to have a formal council for lack of a better term brings the minorities together of what they want to do and their needs. dialogue needs to take place with the governmental agencies. answer this question

anser again.et me it is all about changing the situation in iraq. we have answered this point before. the domestic level there has been those that they're not prosecuting cases. and then we will open it to questions in the audience. before the end i want to ask father, the announcement by the united states, you said that it was welcome but it was not enough and i am just curious, as

there seems to be a sentiment you have all discussed, in terms goingistance is the level down? staying the same? increasing? in a real sense. very happy were a for what happened at least declaration but you know it is not enough that these declaration remain as ink on the papers as words just so that we need to realize that that declaration on earth on the ground. to ask alsore going u.n. the same declaration, from the iraqi government itself. that will be one of signs of the hope to continue, if not who will protect us? how we are going to leave?

we will see what those people persecuted and continue persecuting us so many of them were our neighbors and now they betrayed us. thehow could we continue leading in peace with them so we don't ask for revenge as christians we forgive them what they did. but we ask for justice. -- itstice should be should be -- should be affect in for the old country -- the whole country. so, that is why we -- that is how we can go on to in peace with these main actors and others who are still living under isis government they are in.

just i wanted to add if you the some because about how we are going to live in our cities after the liberation. what kind of solution we are going to ask. there were many, many solution. one of this solution was to make -- for minorities. we don'tcannot the -- accept this. we accept just if the -- the other solution that to have our citiesvernment and our and towns. to be able to as christians to do govern our cities by ourselves. so the people should be christians not non-christians elected by the citizens.

by christian citizens. and to result the issue of the shift demographic shift that had happen for many years so we need our christian cities just for christians. not because we hate others. we don't want to live with others, no. we want deeply work with them but we want our house to be our own house. i cannot accept other one to live in my house without my permission. so that's it. we love all of the minorities. or muslims areis not muslims, we must continue to live together but we want to also our life.

our complete life in our land. >> father, can you help the audience understand who you are alluding to a local populations not having control over who represents them, mayors and whatnot will stop who are the political entities responsible? >> which you mean? >> yes, and elsewhere. >> there is now like a council mosul working there. trying to do their best. christian politicians. so everybody is doing his best for the -- i hope for the christian community -- at least. so. maybe all of us. the church and the politician,

christian politicians, need to meet and meat and me to many times just to stay and to find out a solution. so maybe with the help of a few and others we can make the bank. have about 40 minutes for questions let's open it up because this has provoked a lot of questions. -- just want >> just questions, please. i want to check. is there a microphone? >> we have a microphone right over here and i ask everybody to identify themselves. you.ank please introduce yourself with your affiliation. if i could ask for questions rather than comments. keep them free. there is a gentleman in the back that had his hand up first. >> thank you very much. justice and the

accountability center. i've to questions. father, are you for the federation of muslims? is that what you mean by governing ourselves by our own people in my second question is, i hear a really scary narrative about native outside i live here. there any possibility of reconciliation in the future and making living together a possibility which is what happened whether we like it or not ranking. >> who would like to start with that? father would you? restate the question. bags no. yeah. >> sure. you mentioned you want to govern your city herself by your own people. are you calling for decentralization or federalism?

it looks like if you're calling for none of these types of government you are calling on as no governance which is scary and dangerous. a lot of bad blood. like what maliki did. my second comment regarding the christians want to live themselves. isis, separating victims of all victims which is unacceptable if you are defending victims in general. do you think you are not kind of breaking any possibility for reconciliation between ethnic communities? >> you know, it is i think you know very easy of the government for each minority, it is fine. it is enough right. that will be so all of us what we will feel satisfied and we can go on.

we love our country. the full of our rights. that is all. like sinjarties city, for example where you have --ni arabs living in sydney in sinjar city, what do you anticipate that relationship looking light both to secure their own political right, protection, given the reality of the diversity of the region? go ahead and then bring. the gentleman's point is that

present a danger to the state to a we are saying is that it actually would protect. we are notoprah's going to turn to oppressing other people. we want protection for the area of sinjar. this protection involves everyone who lives there. if they want to restore the

trust of the population there has to be a change in laws. >> father? the constitution recommends for the governance in -- four -- four minorities in iraq i think or other if they decided that there were many demands for iraqi government to take the same position and to other government now in other governments inside iraq. think we can have our rights and our freedom, complete freedom, if we govern ourselves because we tried to be governed by others but we failed.

we finished as a very small community and iraq and most of our peoples leave, left iraq. and so that is i think it is all right to ask for that to govern ourselves. >> yes. a woman right here with the microphone on the aisle will stop -- on the aisle. name is aaron and i wanted to clarify something you said which i think naomi alluded to. you said the government placed a mirror to run your city who happened to have been muslim. so it was not democratic -- a your city who happened to of been muslim. so is not democratic. you are asking for all of you to choose who your maryland would be to run the city is that correct rather than -- who your

.ayor would be to run the city is that correct? >> yes. we need that. democrat christians. just for others. >> right. you were saying there was no democracy. that the mayor was installed and that created most of the problems. >> we have many problems. >> that's right. ok, thank you. >> just to quickly clarify there is a mocon see -- there is a democracy that exist a concern about political influence in different parts and nineveh is a part where the vulnerabilities has been exacerbated by the failure of the iraqi government and kurdish regional government to resolve the dispute and i think that is perhaps what the father was alluding to buy

wanted to make that clear for the people who are present. other questions? sir? >> thank you very much. >> may i ask if you mind translating? would that be possible? >> yes. i have some comments. these are not just questions. he is a member of the iraqi parliament. it is a human rights committee.

the -- head of we have been talking about the conditions of minorities in in iraq and syria. we have been -- we acted a little bit late because we should have known when they were bombed in the year 2004 this was a time of great injury. but we allowed the problem to continue until isis came into existence. and i believe that all of the -- ics here have said that

this international protection is not just only interact at also those minority for affected. and also the crimes of the tyrannical regime. there have been international protection interact in the past in 1991, maybe something like that will happen again. we in the human rights to midi

the parliament have been trying hard to get some of the regulations passed by the old regime but at this moment there is not enough political will to repeal such laws and regulations. this has been the tech rick and isis started with the weakest of the ethnic opponents, they started with one and moved on to other minorities. we want to iraq to become part of the signatory of the statutes.

according to the iraqi constitution and article 125, all of the ethnic minorities are entitled to protection. i need to comment on this subject. >> about the membership in some

statutes of the international criminal courts in the iraqi its positions made that it is not going to join rome. method reason another that is a way out of that which is that iraq would cooperate. and we are hoping that they would agree to that measure. >> thank you and thank you for that comment. despite what is happening,

minorities continue to not be a priority in terms of addressing some of their very real concerns around constitutional challenges and legal protections. can i ask further questions? there is a woman in the middle on the left side with glasses. thank you. if i can ask just to keep it to questions. >> thank you. i am with law and liberty trust, we have been advocating for rights for questions. i got back from iraq last night. where it is being said that the mosul is imminent. what most one is for their coalition to be increased and empowered so they can participate in the defense of territories which are traditionally your zdnet and

others. i was wondering what your thoughts were on that in how the international community could put its resources to work to make that happen? ?> who would like to >> would you like to respond to the militias? [several people talking at once] >> i would like to explain if you'll all too. panel laterbe on a today? >> no, i wish i was. there is a lot to be done. >> thank you. a good point. i appreciate that. >> i think there will also be a position after that. those questions

now regarding militia and other. >> yes. >> there was i think a panel. [whispering] >> thank you. first, a point of order. we were expecting to talk about the religious freedom and what to do. others do not accept diversity. do not accept our terms not to go in their zone and to come for them. pluralism. so we go for humanitarian, we go for political here, we go for everything. we're in some zone. what to do to make our

neighboring countries. who cheated of america, lie to america, betrayed america, and then america is paying taxes of those people. america's going one direction they are going different countries. patriot not that much or national leaders but everyone is trying for their sect the region first. so today, what to do? who are the producers of ice is? why is ice produced today? isis before or not? we will expect much more. basis, we have to talk about these things. but not everything now. i mean we have to go to the source. basis -- isis and

bring about the people who believe in peace and diversity and pluralism. the point before, dialogue and participation. so with that very helpful flaming -- framing. the religious leaders are very important and engaged in all facets of the issues. the political actors is well within the discussions around but i take that point of the questions focused more. >> marquette filled, with the american jewish communities refugees agency. my question is a humanitarian question which is of course the number one priority is to make your community safe for return. and to remain. in the meantime, in the

short-term and medium medium-term, to what extent do members of your communities or subgroups within your community's need to be resettled out of the country to regions like the united states question mark is at being pursued for any particularly vulnerable members of your communities or do want to keep all of them where they are? >> who would like to begin? >> and other political question i think. so just briefly, everybody wants to go out to go back to his own house. so my country is my big house, but i need to be in my own house. so each family dreams that. nobody accepts to be displaced to other place without dignity.

the health now you ask also so i talked before about the urgent needs that we have now like housing for example. the first urgent thing to find out the solution for this big problem. food items., need to continue our life just for today. >> in terms of the question whether or not there are those who do need to be resettled, i know bring maybe if he would like to speak also to the women who have been seeking medical assistance in germany and whether or not their programs of the been created specifically

yehzidis and christians. year -- number of people abducted was 6700. 3000 of them have been liberated. the german government has acted with the kurdistan government to provide health care and mental care for 1000 women. we are hoping that the european

government and other governments might help with the care needed for these women. >> thank you. may i take in additional question? the gentleman in the third row. >> thank you. i am from france. of --.r of the board first of all, we all forget the beenry that democracy has the place where it was born you can say that it is the cradle of democracy and we have countries where democracy is in the cradle still today. so we have to keep that in mind about immediately and have

everything perfect in that part of the region where talking about. ,hat we have to consolidate rather. we have to first of all think about how to make a strong government in iraq. to help the political situation and don't forget that i like to point out -- it was not mentioned with the other againstve called united violence in religion supporting the cities of christian, muslim, and other religious and muslim -- groups. we have to support the rights of these communities. we're not asking for protection that means make this an because istep forward am not happy. way we arein that

going to solve the questions. i think it is more important, it is not asking to protect us but rather to have equal citizenship of thein the whole area middle east. thank you. questions rather than comments. >> thank you. just to be clear, i am not he decision-maker. i am just here to participate and speak with you what is the best for us. i have ideas and others would have maybe different ideas. so we're just talking to see how we can resolve this problem. >> of additional questions. there is a woman in the back row. second to last back further. they give. stand up.

at they yourself beginning. >> marie from the center for victims of torture and i want to touch on a point we made about psychological care. i am wondering what is currently a available to a lots of these communities and whether it is based on the churches and religious communities and is is mentalto like it health care available to all communities regardless of affiliation. >> i don't understand. >> whether or not there is mental health care being given to those of been displaced to deal with the trauma that they have experience in the course of being displaced are the victims of violence and torture. >> mask for an extension? >> would they like to respond to that? >> if we could maybe just with

the panelists i would appreciate that. thank you. would you like to comment? these psychological condition of the women living in the camps is extremely difficult. the government of iraqi kurds a

iraqi kurdistan has some plans in order to rehabilitate these women. but these are not enough. we are hoping for aid. you can maybe explain for that one. >> one moment. >> that is an important issue. , maybe all not feel of us we need that kind of treatment, you know? delay ine is still a that issue because it is officially in iraq and in trauma matters.

comeorganizations try to to iraq and realize training for to helpeople in iraq others. it is a good thing but it is not efficient. so. yeah. >> very briefly. thank you. >> hello. new zealand. excuse me. i am a member of the iraqi parliament. committee.an rights the movement block.

i have something to say about accountability and the way to trust.bout >> thank you. it looks like you have a prepared statement. could we make copies of that available because i think we want to make the focus on the question asked just now about assistance for mental health for those who've been displaced and the points that have been made of how the entire community of displaced people are are actually in need of assistance westmark would that be ok? i am sorry to interrupt. we have about 10 minutes left and i want to see if there are additional questions for the religious sent community leaders on the issue of the topic at hand. thank you.

>> can you translate and just ask him? [speaking foreign language] >> i still have something to add to what you said. >> on the issue of mental health? thank you. >> [speaking foreign language]

the objected women are still living in the camps and living conditions despite all of these suffering they have had to go through before. there have been cases of suicide on the rise amonghe women objected. and some of them are now suffering from cases of mental retardation. there have been one german organization that helped move some of them into care but

because the numbers are too big we still need for more intervention by other groups to do the same. beside that, there are 1500 children and they are in the isis camp being trained to commit atrocities and cut heads, etc.. some of the abducted women are with moved from proposal the expectations that they might call.

osul might fall. we are afraid the women might be toled before they are moved other cities. >> thank you. >> thank you for raising those really critical points, especially your last point about the very real physical threat the women face especially now as we talk about the possible mosul as well as syria. those in iraq or in more serious need. we only have five minutes left so we're going to take one last question and then i will ask the panelists to finish. gentleman at the far back. >> i am from a muslim community.

persecuted in pakistan and so many communities so i mean these things are happening, i think the dialogue is the best thing as we have seen here, people are aware of what is going on and are minorities. so same thing, we need a dialogue in iraq, and pakistan, and some a country so that these people cannot know what is going on with the minorities. ask the u.s.hat we butrnment is not to enforce create a dialogue between minorities and other groups and that is what i am asking the iraqi government, if they can have the dialogue there between the groups. >> other questions? >> with that, i think what i

would like to do is give you the final word to speak. one said, we are tired of promises, we need actions to keep our nations together. i think that is a powerful sentiment about our communities feel. father, would you like to start? >> it is sad for all iraqis that iraqis is in this miserable situation. there is like no peace in any city in iraq. keep our heads together to work together to realize ther, to complete peace in iraq for all

iraqis, not just for minorities but also in the rest of iraq especially in baghdad in these past two months there are very serious problems with security and peace. so, but you know, it realizing bige in iraq so it is a matter you know. we should realize peace a little bit now. a small places with minorities maybe in such cities -- like baghdad, south of iraq, after the liberation we can work all together to resolve the security and peace partners there and we hope altogether can recommend syria aid. iraqis together because we are .itizens of the same country

that is our hope. you would like to thank again for this opportunity. i think it has been pointed out, dialogue can go a far distance in bringing about reconciliation but i think possibly having a representative counsel combined groupmposed as a minority that will dialogue with the locals and regionals in order to flights on aeir tractable level to the knowledge and awareness of others but we are speaking about religious freedom. if everyone goes back to their religious tenants of their particular faith and searches out those teachings which bring tolerance and and even law of, i think that will also go a long way because to speak about religion into the

matter seven taking place and yet everyone is sort of yelling at the top of their voice whereby you cannot have a dialogue it is unbecoming of any religion to do that. so going back to religious tenants to promote these understanding and tolerance is important. >> thank you. >> i want you to think for yourself what would happen if you were living in a tent with three people or so and you have one sister is been raped, another sister being held by isis. how do you do that for two years? for two years, we keep saying that.

we hope that good sentiments will turn into practical steps. the yehzidis will only feel safe in the future of their demands are met. we hope that this conference practical approach and would issue a recommendation that will be implemented in the future. thank you very much. >> thank you gentlemen for this conversation that covered many different issues and was far-reaching and provocative at times but also very heartfelt.

i appreciate you speaking on behalf of your communities and sharing your experiences including the trauma you experienced yourself personally. thank you. [applause] >> let me add my thanks for a , inspiring, and thisormative kick-off to terribly important conference. let's give them one more round of applause. thank you are a much. ok, we going to take a 15-minute rate. byase be back in your seats 11:15. thank you. [indiscernible conversation]

announcer: did you miss any of the republican nor the mechanic national conventions? you can go back and watch every moment on c-span.org to find every moment from both conventions and watch on-demand whenever you want. at the top of the c-span homepage, click on either the democratic or republican convention where you will find videos from each day and highlights near the top. scroll down and browse through every speaker, click on the speech you want to watch, and you can share any speech. mostn.org is your conference of guide for finding video of any convention moment. c-span. created by cable. offered as a public service by your cable service provider. >> the c-span buses in philadelphia, pennsylvania this week. the issues most important to the convention are being asked about any presidential campaign. >> i am from district 43, los

angeles, california. so far my delegate experience has been a learning experience. it has been one where i have learned the true and are workings of how my party works and it is something i am excited to share my experience with the world. i want to be thankful to the people who elected me to come here and be your voice. take you. have a great one. >> i'm with the ohio delegation this morning. the most important issue to me is education. education of inner-city black youth. i feel the lack of education in to school system has a lot improve. specifically in cincinnati, ohio, my town. there is a lot of -- graduation rates are low. theselly we can get issues fixed and solved. >> i am 17-years-old, the young is member of the california delegation. i pledged to bernie sanders and

got involved in the delegate process because i am inspired by grandfather who was with the united farm workers was cesar chavez which led me to fight for voices are not voiced and that is what i'm doing at the convention in helping to represent the use. is my first convention. i have been working setting for hillary for eight years. why i am here. passion. absolutely. >> my name is morgan johnson, i am from ohio. a delegate for burning and i am 20 one years old. this is my first convention. i am the state director of bernie.students for

my generation of millennials is now about the same size of the baby boomers. i am looking forward to the rest of the convention. announcer: on the >> the british house of commons is in summer recess through august. we take a look back at some of the major events that took place in parliament in the last few months including the uk's decision to leave the european union and the resignation of prime minister david cameron. courtesy of bbc parliament, this is an hour. ♪ prime minister cameron: i will do everything i can't as prime minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but i do not think it would be right to steer ourtain