The PHRG was pleased to meet with Meike Nack to discuss the ongoing human rights challenges in Rojava, Iraqi Kurdistan.

Meike is European representative of Free Women in Rojava, an organisation which represents the needs of women in Rojava. They run projects including kindergartens for orphans and medical and psychological healthcare for women and children.

The main points raised by Meike:

• The embargo on supplies is becoming an increasingly serious problem. There is currently no possibility of getting medicines into Rojava, which is having very negative health impacts.
• A quarter of the population in Rojava are refugees and are in desperate need of international support.
• There is a shortage of medical specialists, e.g. gynaecologists and therapists, both of which are greatly needed in the area. Free Women in Rojava are trying to establish mental health care for women and children and are in need of support for these projects.
• Some 5000 women are still being held captive by ISIS forces, with only a few hundred released so far.
• Pressure should be put on the Government of Iraqi Kurdistan to open the border to allow humanitarian and medical supplies to cross over.

The PHRG is continuing to monitor the situation in this region area closely.