IKWRO

i-Volunteer, 6 December

When I meet Diana Naami, the director of the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation, it is only after I’ve negotiated a space in her busy work diary – only after she’s sure that I’m for real – so we can arrange a time. And, of course, I’m politely informed that the London location of IKWRO’s offices is strictly confidential.

Such precautions are not for nothing – they are not an exaggeration. Diana has received numerous death threats for her work among women from minority, primarily Muslim, communities and, she tells me, even been physically assaulted twice for defending a woman’s right to choose – and in the more extreme cases, to live – in the face of a rising tide “honour” crimes.

The Independent, 6 November 2009

Government pulls funding for groups that tackle forced marriage and murder

Funding for the front line organisations which locate and save the victims of forced marriages and honour killings has been slashed by the Government, The Independent has learnt.

Two of the country's most prominent non-profit organisations involved in tackling so-called honour violence are now reliant solely on public donations, including a charity that runs the only national telephone line for victims of forced marriages. The funding shortage is so bad that both charities say they will have to pare down or close key services unless more money can be found, which could put hundreds of vulnerable people at risk.

The Honour Network, Britain's only national help line for victims of forced marriages and honour attacks, has not received any Government cash since April, when a £43,000 grant from the Forced Marriage Unit ran out.

The Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO), a London based charity that specifically helps Kurdish and Arab victims, has just been told its funding would not be renewed next year. A £29,000 grant they won last year paid for a full-time Kurdish outreach worker who helped victims relocate to safe houses. The worker will now have to be laid off.