Strengthening Protection and Legal Support for Yezidi Survivors
This month, our Programs and Development Manager met with our long-term partner, Stefanus Alliance International (SAI), in Oslo to share updates on our protection work in Iraq, the impact of SAI’s support, and the urgent challenges still facing the Yezidi community.
Through a three-year partnership, SAI is supporting FYF’s critical protection interventions in Khanke and surrounding areas, including gender-based violence (GBV) case management and legal assistance.
Since the project began in January, FYF has:
- Delivered individual legal aid to 36 community members and conducted legal awareness sessions for 89 individuals—already reaching 89% of our annual target. Sessions covered key topics through our Know Your Rights initiative, including early marriage, divorce and women's rights, and access to FYF's legal services.
- Provided GBV and Protection Case Management to 30 new survivors, developing individualized care plans based on comprehensive risk assessments. Support included psychosocial counseling, emotional wellbeing services, stress management, rights awareness, and referrals to health, social, and protection services.
This work is more important than ever. Across Iraq, mental health and protection services remain severely limited, leaving many Yezidi survivors of violence and trauma with few places to turn for support.
We are deeply grateful to Stefanus Alliance International for their continued partnership and commitment to ensuring that vulnerable Yezidi women, girls, and families can access the protection, legal support, and care they deserve.