11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Limited space in women's shelters; lack of government assistance for victims of domestic violence ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 24021]

"Private sheltersfor women existed; however, space was limited and information regarding their locations was closely held. Some NGOs worked with local provincial governments to train community health workers to treat victims of domestic violence. Victims of domestic violence received no substantive assistance from the government."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Lack of government support for victims of domestic violence and women running single-parent households ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 24025]

"The MOLSA Social Care Directorate administered a variety of social care institutions, among them institutions for orphans and the elderly. No substantive shelter assistance was offered for victims of domestic violence. Women who were heads of single-parent households received a minimal cash stipend from the ministry; however, the budget for this assistance did not meet the need."

Document(s): Open document

23.06.2004 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Baghdad: Women's safe house recently opened ("original document") [ID 10376]

"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."

Document(s): original document

03.06.2004 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Shelter in north helps vulnerable women ("original document") [ID 10377]

"(...) Of the 437 women who spent more than seven weeks at the centre between 1999 and February 2003, 228 were reconciled with their families. The centre helped about 50 others either through divorce or marriage proceedings, or to find a job. In line with the centre's maxim that women should only stay as long as they wish, a further 70 simply decided to leave. (...) With only limited security, though, Nawa does shy away from potentially more violent cases, such as women threatened with murder by their relatives for staining the family honour. Instead, it passes them on to more specialised shelters in Sulaimaniyah, like the recently-opened Asuda Centre. (...)"

Document(s): original document

21.04.2004 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Women's shelter to open in protected Baghdad location ("original document") [ID 10378]

"US officials plan to open a new shelter for women who are victims of domestic and other forms of violence - the first of its kind in the capital, Baghdad.

In Iraq, violence against women is still a taboo subject and if a woman complains about it, her family and husband's family sit down together to try to work out the issue."

Document(s): original document

12.12.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Shelter gives strength to women ("IRIN: Shelter gives strength to women") [ID 10379]

"Creating a shelter is the first step towards helping women victims get back on their feet. Traditional shari'ah law recognised by the former regime contained no provision to protect female victims of violence, Layla. Families might kill a woman relative they felt had dishonoured them, even if whatever had happened, such as a rape, was not her fault."

Document(s): IRIN: Shelter gives strength to women