On Her Shoulders is a documentary about the horrific life of Nadia Murad. She is a young Iraqi woman who lived in the Kurdish portion of northern Iraq, In 2014, her town was taken over by members of Isis, who began by performing an ethnic cleansing. Nadia and her people are part of a non-muslim religious minority called Yazidi, a religion which clashes against ISIS ideals. Nadia herself was taken and forced into sexual slavery, but fortunately managed to escape.

It’s a gripping tale, and hard to watch at times, but it’s necessary to see be aware that such crimes against humanity still take place in this world.

Spoilers below

The Documentary picks up when she talks to various international government leaders, as well as the U.N.  She has to recount what’s happened to her and her community, even though it requires her to relive it.  She has been thrust onto the  international stage, even though she’s in her mid 20s, knows that if she doesn’t speak out, no one will. She fights back the tears and sorrow to carry on and spread the word.

During the documentary, she visits several refugee camps where the Yazidi people are. She speaks to them to let them know they matter, and she’s doing everything in her power to help stop it.

It’s heartbreaking to watch, but it’s important and enlightening. I never knew about these people, but do now.