Member Spotlight: IKWRO
The National Alliance of Women’s Organisations is proud to provide a space for our incredible members to network and learn from our as well as other members’ unique expertise.
By way of our member spotlights we hope to share the hugely valuable work that our members do for women, be that on a local, national or international level. Members also share why they feel being a member of NAWO is so valuable for them.
This spotlight we’re focussing on IKWRO, The Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation.
IKWRO is an award-winning charity founded (as the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation) in 2002. As testament to its’ success and in response to huge need, IKWRO has expanded and now provides unique and vital support for women and girls from all Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan communities who are at risk of “honour” based violence, child and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and domestic violence. IKWRO provides direct services including advocacy and professional counselling. Last year, IKWRO’s advice team, who speak nine languages, received 2700 calls and provided support in 800 cases. And in 2015, IKWRO opened the UK’s first specialist Middle Eastern women’s refuge.
IKWRO is regularly called upon to share expertise with government, academics and media and to train professionals from bodies such as the police, social services and schools. IKWRO tirelessly campaigns for the rights of women and girls and to ensure their safety. Successes include the first extradition from Kurdistan-Iraq to the UK of perpetrators of “honour” killing and the UK’s criminalisation of forced marriage.
As you can see from their excellent work we are rightly very proud to have IKWRO as a member of NAWO. Here is what IKWRO had to say about why working with us has provided them with unique opportunities to expand and share their work even further.
“As a specialist organisation, representing women and girls from all Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan communities, who are at risk of “honour” based violence, child and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and domestic violence, IKWRO values being a member of NAWO for a number of reasons.
“Through NAWO, IKWRO is connected to a rich network of women’s organisations, specialising in a wide range of relevant issues and representing many communities.
“Being members of NAWO and being part of this network, strengthens all aspects of IKWRO’s work, from opening up referral pathways for clients, to ensuring that we are updated on important news, campaigns and opportunities.
“NAWO also shares IKWRO’s updates within the network and helps amplify IKWRO’s voice beyond it.”
You can find out more about how to join us by becoming a member at this link, and find out more about IKWRO, here.
