“We Kurds are a persecuted people, condemned for centuries by foreign lords,” proclaims Iraqi Kurdish attorney Lawand Talal. “So when Syrians fleeing utter terror from ISIS arrive at our borders how can we not but respond with compassion? We know exactly their plight,” explained Lawand to me on location last year in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Compassion is at the center of his professional life. Lawand abandoned a lucrative career in the private practice of law to instead join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of behalf of Syrians and internally displaced Iraqis searching for asylum. Refugees include the normal spectrum of humanity. Some are pregnant, extremely young, chronically diseased. Disabled Syrian refugees are Lawand’s particular specialty, bring to bear the principles of international law and justice on behalf of those afflicted by cerebral palsy, learning disorders, schizophrenia, paraplegia; in short, those people who are the very least capable of defending themselves.
We are extremely privileged to welcome Lawand Talal to give the opening address and set the tone for this year’s Humanitarian Health Conference. Please join us, and be inspired!