OSLO, Norway
On 29 September 2026, the Free Ezidi Foundation (FYF) reported new results from a three-year partnership with Stefanus Alliance International supporting legal assistance and protection services for Ezidis in Khanke and surrounding areas of Iraq.
During a meeting in Oslo in September, FYF’s Programs and Development Manager presented updates on the project, which began in January 2026 and includes legal assistance, legal-rights education and case management for survivors of gender-based violence.
Since the beginning of the project, 36 individuals have received individual legal assistance. A further 89 people have participated in legal awareness sessions, bringing the project to 89 percent of its annual target for this part of the programme.
The sessions form part of FYF’s Know Your Rights initiative and have addressed subjects including early marriage, divorce, women’s rights and access to legal services.
FYF has also provided gender-based violence and protection case management to 30 new survivors. Individual support plans were developed following risk assessments, with services including psychosocial counselling, emotional wellbeing support, stress management, information about legal rights and referrals to health, social and protection services where needed.
Stefanus Alliance International is supporting the work through a three-year partnership with FYF beginning in 2026. The programme is centred in Khanke, where many Ezidis displaced following the Ezidi Genocide of 2014 continue to live.
FYF has identified limited access to mental health, protection and specialised support services in Iraq as an ongoing obstacle for survivors of violence and trauma. The organisation’s work in Khanke combines direct protection services with legal assistance intended to help survivors understand and exercise their rights.
Image credits: FYF
