IKWRO was founded (as the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation) in 2002. Since our foundation, as testament to the success of our work and in response to the need for culturally specific support, advocacy and counselling for women from Iranian, Kurdish, Arab, Afghan and Turkish communities in the UK, our services have been extended to several vulnerable MENA communities in the United Kingdom.
IKWRO’s mission is to protect Middle Eastern women and girls who are at risk of ‘honour’ based violence, forced marriage, child marriage, female genital mutilation and domestic violence and to promote their rights.
We provide direct services for women and girls, including advocacy, counselling and refuge. We also provide training and support to professionals from bodies such as the police, social services and schools to help them to understand issues affecting minority ethnic women. We campaign for better laws and their effective implementation as well as for appropriate resources to uphold the rights of women and girls and ensure their safety. We hold annual “True Honour Award” in commemoration of victims of “honour” killing and to in recognition of the hard work and dedication of individuals and organisations who are working to end ‘honour’ based violence in the UK.
