Iranian & Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) London
What We Do
IKWRO was founded in 2002 and represent women and girls from Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan (MENA) communities at risk of “honour” based violence, forced marriage, child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), spouse abandonment and domestic abuse. IKWRO’s advice team supports through advice and advocacy in seven community languages plus English. IKWRO trains frontline professionals to understand and spot the signs of “honour” based violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and other forms of gender based violence. IKWRO works closely with schools, colleges and universities and engages young people to understand their rights, where to seek help and to be advocates for positive change.
Forced Marriage
Drawing on their direct work with survivors, they campaigns to improve laws, policies and practice and played a leading role in the criminalisation of forced marriage in 2014. IKWRO’s unique research which provides the only national statistics on “honour” based violence, found that in 5 years (2010-2014) 11,744 cases were recorded by police. IKWRO has been involved in a number of creative projects including the BBC’s ground-breaking film about forced marriage and “honour” killing, Murdered By My Father. For support or advice please call them on 0207 920 6460 (Mon to Fri 9.30-5.30) and For out-of-hours emergencies call Kurdish / Arabic/English: 07846 275246 Farsi / Dari / English: 07846 310157.
Our Girl Campaign Work
IKWRO will use the Our Girl film and materials in their prevention work with schools across London and in their training for frontline professionals. Alongside this Our Girl will be clearly available on IKWRO’s website and shared across IKWRO’s wide range of beneficiaries and all the activities in the Our Girl campaign encouraging them to use the film and materials in their work. Our Girl publicity material ie cards/ posters will be given out to professionals and they will continue to use Our Girl both as a training and campaigning tool in all of their programming.
Campaign Outcomes
Training for Frontline Professionals includes:
- Kensington Workshop – 10
- 3 Tower Hamlets workshop training – 42
- Cambridge Training workshop – 26
- Oxford Training workshop – 20
- MIND in Westminster Training workshop – 6
- 2 x Hammersmith Town Hall multi-agency training arranged with Mayors Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) – IKWRO screened Our Girl and held a discussion about the film in addition to this training – 7 professionals
- On 6TH January in partnership with the Sharan Project, IKWRO raised awareness by speaking to 100 police officers and school safeguarding officers about “honour” based violence and forced marriage and screening the Our Girl film.
- Harris Academy Chain at Harris Academy Crystal Palace, 6 Safeguarding Officers from different academy’s, workshop & screening
- Hammersmith Town Hall at MOPAC sessio, workshop & screening x 4 social workers
- Hackney Children’s Social Services, screened and discussed Our Girl film x 25 social workers
- City Police Training event – 1
- Hammersmith Academy Training teachers/ staff on HBV and FM – 90
- Angela Ruskin University Workshop for trainee social workers staff on HBV and FM – 8
- Woodhouse College Training teachers/ staff on HBV and FM – 23
- Great Ormond Street Hospital training course for social workers and counsellors on “honour” based violence and forced marriage included Our Girl screening x 19
- Police training x 10
Schools/ University’s/ Colleges workshops and screenings
- National Schools Conference ‘Combatting “Honour” Based Violence’, London Winchmere School for teachers, school staff, police safeguarding schools officers and other frontline workers – 100 and young people – 30.
- Hendon School workshops and screening – 60
- Seabright Primary School, Hackney – 8
- Waltham Forest Secondary School – 4
- Leeds Refuge Forum – 5
- Middlesex University Lecture and Screening – 14
- Hendon School – 4 x Forced Marriage and “honour” based violence workshops & film screenings – 176 students
- City of London School for Girls, Presented to assembly with Our Girl film screening and discussion, 150 6th Form students
- University of Law workshop on “honour” based violence and forced marriage, screened Our Girl – 12
- Hendon School – 4 workshops each to 50 students – 200
Other awareness raising activities include:
- Day of the Girl 2016
- 16 Days of Activism
- End Violence Against Women Week
- Ongoing general promotion of the Our Girl campaign via social media
- Leaflet and DVD distribution
- Merton Safeguarding Children Conference, stand with Our Girl materials including posters and leaflets
- University of Law, Moorgate, True Honour Awards, Stand with Our Girl posters and leaflets. Celebrated Lucky Begum from Our Girl Partners – Luton All Women’s Centre, 180 including NGO’s, academics, Baronesses, lawyers, Survivors, other professionals, CEO of Charity Commission
IKWRO’s Executive Director presented at a symposium on “honour” based violence at Arkansas University which Our Girl’s Ruth Benny presented at via skype
Took part in a reception at office of Sarah Champion MO, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities celebrating government announcement that Relationships & Sex Education would become compulsory and networked as Our Girl London Partners
- SMK Foundation, Masterclass for NGO Campaigners (health/learning disabilities/ community groups) – screened Our Girl x 20 campaigners
IKWRO attended reception at the office of Sarah Champion MO, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities celebrating government announcement that Relationships & Sex Education would become compulsory and networked as Our Girl London Partners
Presented to community leaders and professionals from America on ending “honour” based violence, forced marriage and FGM at Dawson Cornwell Solicitors for an American Embassy exchange project and shared Our Girl materials
- Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre Conference ‘Why every professional needs to be equipped to safeguard against harmful practices Our Girl screened and materials distributed- 220
- Urswick School training on FGM, however forced marriage was discussed and Our Girl posters distributed x 80
- Sir John Cass training on FGM, however forced marriage was discussed and Our Girl posters distributed x 50
Distributed Our Girl materials during the Sutton Reach conference x 20
Distributed leaflets and posters at Edmonton Green College during an FGM survivors’ group that we run
- Continued to promote Our Girl throughout the campaign via social media upwards of 10,000 reach estimated
Our Girl materials
- Downloadable IKWRO Our Girl Poster – http://ikwro.org.uk/our-girl/
- Our Girl branded workshop materials
0207 920 6460
Our partners:
National
Sharan Project
London
IKWRO
South East
Peer Productions & True Honour
Midlands
West Midlands Consortium
North West
The Wish Centre
Affected by forced marriage?
If you or someone you know is at risk of forced marriage, you can contact the Forced Marriage unit on 020 7008 0151 or The Sharan Project on 0844 5043231.
If in immediate danger call the police on 999.