Iraq Crisis - Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence - 2015

March 2015 - The humanitarian situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. The violence between armed groups and government forces has displaced over 2.4 million people from their homes. An estimated 5.2 million people in Iraq have been affected by the conflict and are in need of humanitarian assistance. Basic services including health care and water infrastructure are disrupted resulting in acute humanitarian needs. As fighting and human rights violations persist and international efforts remain to free territory controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) the situation is expected to deteriorate and to cause additional displacement. With DFATD’s support and that of other donors the partner is providing protection for up to 35 000 women and girls survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across Iraq. Project activities include: (1) establishing women and girls centres in camps and host communities to provide services to SGBV survivors such as case management community outreach to identify victims of SGBV that don’t come forward and organize advocacy campaigns to raise awareness of SGBV; (2) addressing child forced marriage by providing direct support and safe spaces for child brides and engaging the community on the issue of early and forced marriage; and (3) coordinating the overall humanitarian response to SGBV in Iraq.

The expected outcome for this project includes increased access to protection services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.