Women in Iraq, particularly in the south and centre of the country, have already suffered for almost thirty years from the violence and despotism of the ruling Baath party. Rape and other forms of torture are part of daily life in prisons there.

The Baath regime’s severe human rights violations in northern Iraq include what were known as the Al-Anfal operations, in which the Baath regime destroyed thousands of Kurdish villages in 1988, deported or killed over 100,000 people, and carried out poison gas attacks (Halabja). A relatively autonomous Kurdish area was able to develop in northern Iraq as a result of the Kurdish uprising and the establishment of a no-fly zone. Women in this region set up their own organisations, drew public attention to issues of violence and violations of women’s human rights and established numerous women’s projects, for example, to assist the Al-Anfal widows, who were left destitute and with virtually no rights. They also combated the increasing pressure that fundamentalist Islamic groups exerted on women.

The current war has lead to a dramatic further deterioration in the situation these women face. But now all Iraqi women for the first time since 30 years have the ability to participate in the creation of a new democratic Iraq. This will be a long and difficult way and they need our solidarity and support.

medica mondiale supports women in Iraq through an aid programme, run by our partner organisation, wadi e.V., in northern Iraq since 1993.

 

Please help us to support women in Iraq with your donation!

Donation account:

WADI: Postbank Frankfurt · Account 612 305 602 · BLZ 500 100 60

 

Additionally Projects:

NAWA Centre for Women in Distress in Sulemaniah (Northern Iraq)

For six years wadi has run a women’s house here with an advice centre and a women’s refuge, which can accommodate up to 18 women and their children. The house provides shelter to women facing acute family problems and also offers the chance to take part in long-term therapy.

Another center was opened last year in Arbil, the Khanzad Home for Women in Distress.

On 27th March 2003 we received a calls from Women's Organizations from Suleymaniah and Arbil, channelled through the NAWA and Khanzad centre wadi & medica supports.

In this appeals Iraqi women called on the German people, women’s organisations in Germany and the German government to support their work. They are currently stepping up their efforts to provide rapid humanitarian aid to Iraqi refugee women. The long-term aim is for women to participate in a democratic and federal Iraq.

We support this appeal. Because democracy without rights for women is not democracy.

Psychosocial support and counselling and telephone hot-line

A female psychologist and several social workers are available to counsel women on their personal difficulties and can, if required, help the women to obtain legal advice. This aid programme is aimed at all women and girls whose physical, psychological, social and political integrity has been violated. Such violations have occurred through long-existing structures in Iraq that oppress women.

Network with other women’s organisations in northern Iraq

On the basis of our experience of working with women in other war zones, medica mondiale and wadi advocate networking with other Iraqi women’s organisations. The objective: to re-establish an alliance conducive to communication and to strengthen women’s resources in the country. In contrast to women in Kurdish northern Iraq, women in central and southern Iraq are still directly exposed to human rights violations by Saddam Hussein’s regime. Women throughout the country suffer from gender-specific persecution. The situation in northern Iraq is somewhat better, as is also the case for food supplies. So far this is the only part of the country in which women have been able to develop their own political networks.

Cooperation with wadi e.V.

An experienced partner organisation is in charge of ongoing implementation and monitoring of the project; wadi e.V, a coalition of individuals and groups, has worked to launch and support aid projects in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan since 1991. Supporting women facing psychological crises and victims of sexual violence, prisoners and refugees are particular priorities in the organisation’s work.

wadi e.V. has had its own office in Iraqi Kurdistan since 1995, which serves as a base for local staff to assist the various projects. The association also works with several local and international organisations and UN agencies, and supports an alliance of local women’s associations.

 

Help us to support women in Iraq

 

Frankfurt & Cologne 16.04.2003

 

medica mondiale e.V.
Hülchrather Straße 4
D- 50670 Köln
Fon: 49 -221-9318980/ Fax: 221-9318981
info@medicamondiale.org, www.medicamondiale.de

Wadi e. V.
Herborner Str. 62
D-60439 Frankfurt/ M
Tel 49-69-57002440/ Fax: 57002444
, www.wadinet.de

Regional WADI-Suboffice in Northern Iraq: