IRAQ: Shelter in north helps vulnerable women

Local NGO to take over women's safe house

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

BAGHDAD, 23 June (IRIN) - A women's safe house that was recently opened in a heavily fortified area of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, known as the "green zone", is being turned over to a local women's groups to run after 30 June, the scheduled return of sovereignty to Iraqis.

The shelter, currently with only one visitor but which has had as many as seven at any one time, is the first of its kind in a society that does not talk about issues such as domestic violence and rape. Many in Iraq feel that husbands have the right to beat their wives. Honour killings are common, in which the family kills a woman for "dishonouring" them by being a victim of rape or adultery, or leaving her husband.

"We have been so careful to keep the safe house confidential that hardly anybody knows about it," Major Martha Boyd told representatives from several women's groups gathered to talk about the transition. "We know there are many poor women who are beaten at home. How can we spread the word so we can help them?"

One woman who came to the safe house was first kept in a cell in a detention centre for her own safety by US troops, obviously not a viable option, Boyd told the group. Boyd works as the adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, which oversees the safe house and controls its budget, although it does not handle the day-to-day administration.

Another woman who tried to come to the safe house had to stay at the police station overnight, while a third was kept at a trailer house used by US administrators.

"She was practically suicidal once she came out because she had been locked in so no one could bother her," Boyd told IRIN referring to the woman in the trailer.

It's important to treat the causes of the women's problems, along with the problems themselves, Laitham, a worker at the safe house who declined to give his last name for security reasons, told IRIN. He pointed out that many problematic family situations could be avoided if young girls weren't married to older men. For example, if a 14-year-old girl is married to a 40-year-old man, she is not allowed to register her children when they're born, Laitham said.

"The Ministry of Justice should prevent such an early marriage," he stressed. "We need to have workshops for the women, but we also need to have workshops to discuss honour killings or physical abuse."

The safe house is meant as a temporary solution for women who have no other place to go, Boyd said. It is currently receiving funding from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

"This is a great idea, but for Iraqi women, if they come here, they can't go back," said a woman who's identity could not be disclosed for safety reasons. "If they go back they will be more abused."

Iraqi workers previously told US military officials who set up the safe house that women should be allowed to return home to reconcile with their families.

In the future, US troops have plans to open nine more women's centres around Baghdad. They now have buildings around the city that they want to make sure continue to be set aside to be women's centres rather than be given to other socially needy agencies by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

"They're morphing, but we won't be able to tell them what to do at all after 30 June," Boyd explained. "My role will be much less significant, but I will continue to be an adviser."

Other women's groups in Iraq are trying to open women's centres, including the US-based Women for Women NGO, which recently opened a centre in Mansour, in southern Baghdad.

Women at the safe house will be taught job skills, even though the main goal was to get them to reconcile with their families, Laitham said.

Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2004

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

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	23.06.2004 \| IRIN News - United Nations Local NGO to take over women's safe house [This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations] BAGHDAD, 23 June (IRIN) - A women's safe house that was recently opened in a heavily fortified area of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, known as the "green zone", is being turned over to a local women's groups to run after 30 June, the scheduled return of sovereignty to Iraqis. The shelter, currently with only one visitor but which has had as many as seven at any one time, is the first of its kind in a society that does not talk about issues such as domestic violence and rape. Many in Iraq feel that husbands have the right to beat their wives. Honour killings are common, in which the family kills a woman for "dishonouring" them by being a victim of rape or adultery, or leaving her husband. "We have been so careful to keep the safe house confidential that hardly anybody knows about it," Major Martha Boyd told representatives from several women's groups gathered to talk about the transition. "We know there are many poor women who are beaten at home. How can we spread the word so we can help them?" One woman who came to the safe house was first kept in a cell in a detention centre for her own safety by US troops, obviously not a viable option, Boyd told the group. Boyd works as the adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, which oversees the safe house and controls its budget, although it does not handle the day-to-day administration. Another woman who tried to come to the safe house had to stay at the police station overnight, while a third was kept at a trailer house used by US administrators. "She was practically suicidal once she came out because she had been locked in so no one could bother her," Boyd told IRIN referring to the woman in the trailer. It's important to treat the causes of the women's problems, along with the problems themselves, Laitham, a worker at the safe house who declined to give his last name for security reasons, told IRIN. He pointed out that many problematic family situations could be avoided if young girls weren't married to older men. For example, if a 14-year-old girl is married to a 40-year-old man, she is not allowed to register her children when they're born, Laitham said. "The Ministry of Justice should prevent such an early marriage," he stressed. "We need to have workshops for the women, but we also need to have workshops to discuss honour killings or physical abuse." The safe house is meant as a temporary solution for women who have no other place to go, Boyd said. It is currently receiving funding from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. "This is a great idea, but for Iraqi women, if they come here, they can't go back," said a woman who's identity could not be disclosed for safety reasons. "If they go back they will be more abused." Iraqi workers previously told US military officials who set up the safe house that women should be allowed to return home to reconcile with their families. In the future, US troops have plans to open nine more women's centres around Baghdad. They now have buildings around the city that they want to make sure continue to be set aside to be women's centres rather than be given to other socially needy agencies by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. "They're morphing, but we won't be able to tell them what to do at all after 30 June," Boyd explained. "My role will be much less significant, but I will continue to be an adviser." Other women's groups in Iraq are trying to open women's centres, including the US-based Women for Women NGO, which recently opened a centre in Mansour, in southern Baghdad. Women at the safe house will be taught job skills, even though the main goal was to get them to reconcile with their families, Laitham said. Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2004 UNITED NATIONS Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) WADI e.V. \| tel.: (+49) 069-57002440 \| fax (+49) 069-57002444 http://www.wadinet.de \| e-mail: