Just in time for International Women’s Day which is exactly one month away on March 8, the specialist work of our Barnet Homes’ One Stop Shop has been shortlisted for an award by a women’s rights group.

The Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) works against ‘honour’ based violence, domestic violence, forced marriage, child marriage and female genital mutilation.

Alongside our partners, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy Manager Radlamah Canakiah has been instrumental in working with IKWRO and ensuring they are put in touch with victims of domestic and sexual abuse from those communities.

One woman who benefited from a referral to IKWRO was Mrs J, who arrived in the UK from Iran several years ago and was resident at the dv refuge.  Mrs J was able to receive support from women from her community, giving her the confidence to re-build a new life for herself and her children. This is key in Barnet where this partnership is the only official support system for victims of honour based violence in the borough.

We will find out if Radlamah wins a True Honour Award  on behalf of Barnet Homes and our partners at the IKWRO Awards evening on March 7.