Program for Children

Overview

In 2009, the Berlin Center for Torture Victims and the Kirkuk Center for Torture Victims established a network of rehabilitation units for traumatized children and adolescents in North Iraq. Young victims of human rights violations living in the cities of Kirkuk, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Chamchamal and Duhok are offered an integrated program including rehabilitation, outreach services, and human rights education as well as services in juvenile prisons. Between 2010 and 2011 this network was able to serve nearly 2000 children and adolescents.

Background

Children, and young people living in northern Iraq still suffer from the consequences of collective oppression and genocidal activities directed against the civilian population. While some of these young victims continue to be subjected to atrocities such as terrorism or kidnapping, others are affected by the intergenerational transmission of trauma experienced by their parents.

Objectives

The chief objective of the children’s program is to defend and promote children's rights as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, especially their right to be protected from violence and abuse, to gain access to human rights education, and to obtain rehabilitation.

Beneficiaries

The program is open to children, adolescents and young adults who

have experienced human rights violations such as torture, inhuman treatment, sexual abuse, or terror
suffer from secondary trauma due to traumatization of family members
have experienced domestic or gender-specific violence
are living in detention facilities or are released from prison without future perspective.

The program is also open to parents and direct relatives of traumatized children.

Further Information

To learn more about the program and ways to help, please contact Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! JavaScript muss aktiviert werden, damit sie angezeigt werden kann. .

Additional Information

Nura, 10 years old, from Kirkuk

When Nura was 4 years old, her family was able to finally return to Kirkuk City. Her parents had been deported from Kirkuk to Erbil in 1988, where they were forced to marry.

Nura was 10 years old, when she first came to the center wearing only pajamas.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child obliges all signatories to …

... protect children from »all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse«

... direct their education to »the development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms«

... promote the »physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration« of child victims »in an environment which fosters the health, self-respect and dignity of the child.«