Asuda offers protection to women and girls threatened with death in the name of family and tribal honor. This project will fund accommodation and legal costs of women and girls seeking refuge.
Violence against women is on the rise in Iraq. In Kirkuk governorate, the police directorate reports 55 cases of honor killings of women in 2010 (as opposed to 17 in 2009). The cases of self-immolation number 279 (compared to 117 in 2009) and cases of violence against women number over 2,000. In Iraq, women have few places to turn to in order to protect themselves against domestic violence or honor killings, and resources are limited to secure their independence or safe return to their families.
Asuda supports victims of gender-based violence through offering protection at a secure shelter, job training and basic medical care, and access to mediation and legal services to help bring families back together without the threat of violence.
The shelter can support up to 15 women at a time and operates largely through the efforts of volunteers. Improved resources build the capacity of the center to assist additional women, preparing them to live independently or return to their families.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
