The Kurdistan Women’s Union has launched the Panawar initiative, a project offering a dedicated hotline and access to volunteer lawyers for women facing domestic or online violence.
The announcement took place in Erbil on the opening day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence GBV. Panawar operates under the Amizi Khizan (Family Embrace) Institute for Family Issues, an initiative established by the Kurdistan Women’s Union.
Lia Saif Al-Din, a Secretariat member and head of the Culture and Media Department at the Union, told KirkukNow that the Amizi Khezani Institute maintains offices across all provinces of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq KRI.
She explained that women can reach out through the Panawar hotline, after which their cases are forwarded to the Directorate for Combating Domestic Violence by volunteer lawyers affiliated with the Union. This directorate operates under the Kurdistan Regional Government KRG’s Ministry of Interior.
Women seeking help can call 07502008179 through the Panawar project. If legal support is required, volunteer lawyers will take on their cases free of charge.
“What the Amiz Institute is doing provides another essential communication channel for abused women,” Lia Saif Al-Din said. She noted that the institute maintains strong ties with relevant government bodies in the Kurdistan Region and includes a department focused on family counseling and reconciliation.
A study conducted by the Kurdistan Women’s Union—an organization linked to the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP—revealed that online violence is the most widespread form of abuse targeting women.
“We will publish the findings related to this type of violence on Wednesday (November 26),” Lia added.
Data from the Women’s Legal Aid Organization (WOLA) shows that 13,017 domestic violence cases were documented in the Kurdistan Region last year, alongside 226 complaints involving online abuse.
According to UN Women, 21 percent of women in Iraq have been exposed to online violence, with 43 percent experiencing repeated incidents in various forms. Additionally, 31 percent of men surveyed openly admitted to committing this type of violence.
