The Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women’s Organisation KMEWO established in 1999. Its primary goal was to champion the cause of women from Kurdistan and the Middle East – mostly victims of domestic violence, honour killing, forced marriages, female genital mutilation and other forms of human rights abuses. However, on arrival in the UK, their problems was soon compounded by their inability to speak the English language; not being able to find paid employment; lack of accommodation and problems relating to their immigration status, controlling behaviour, cultural differences and lack of confidence .
KMEWO aims are:
To relieve the distress and suffering of Kurdish and Middle Eastern women and children in necessitous circumstances resident in the UK and in such parts of the world as the Trustees may from time to time determine,
To promote the human rights of Kurdish and Middle Eastern women through providing information, research and organising conferences and seminars on human rights issues,
To promote equality of opportunities of women particularly those within the Kurdish and Middle Eastern communities resident in the UK and elsewhere by providing information and educating the general public on such matters.