The United Nations on September 16 appointed a new goodwill ambassador: a Yazidi woman who was raped, tortured and sold into sexual slavery by the Islamic State group in Iraq.
During an emotional ceremony at UN headquarters, Nadia Murad Basee Taha, 23, accepted the distinction from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, becoming the first trafficking victim to hold the position of UN goodwill ambassador for the dignity of survivors of human trafficking.
Murad said the IS committed genocide against the Yazidi minority group, killing her mother and brother and making her a sexual slave along with thousands of other Yazidi girls and women, many of whom have died since or still remain in captivity.
After three months of captivity, Murad was able to escape and resettle in Germany.
"Maybe I lived, so that I would be able to use my heart and soul and my words to be their voice," she said.
Ban said he had been moved to tears when he heard Murad's story.
"Nadia shows with her life how important it is to fight for trafficking victims," he said. "They deserve justice. And when we empower them, they can help transform our world."