Iraq Pro Bono Directory

Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Iraq.

For Iraq country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries and relevant documents, please click here.

As UNHCR statistics generally rely on data from host countries, statistics on refugees alone can give an insufficient account of refugee numbers, as some host countries will not grant refugee status to certain groups. Including statistics for individuals in refugee-like situations is an attempt to account for unrecognised refugees and does not include internally displaced persons. Statistics for stateless refugees are included if available.

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)

refugeerights.org
Address: Urban Justice Center, 40 Rector St, 9th Fl, New York, NY 10006
Email: info@refugeerights.org

IRAP is a legal aid organisation and cannot provide financial assistance or other benefits. They do not make any decisions concerning resettlement and they are completely independent from UNHCR and national governments. Any information sent to IRAP is highly confidential, and all services are free of any charge. IRAP provides free legal services to refugees seeking refugee protection and resettlement.

In Iraq, they are only able to help refugees (non-Iraqi nationals) living in Iraq or Iraqis with U.S. affiliation through family or employment. Here are a few types of assistance that IRAP provides.

– Refugees in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. They can help individuals gather documents and present their refugee claim prior to IOM or USCIS interviews. If they are denied, IRAP can review to see if they can assist with a Request for Review, including written counseling for individuals with security-related reasons (“Other”) denials.

– Iraqis with U.S. employment or U.S. family affiliations. They help Iraqis apply to the Direct Access Program (DAP) administered by IOM. Their volunteers help locate employment verification. Additionally, they can coordinate with US relatives of Iraqis who may be able to file family-based immigration petitions for DAP.

– Iraqis in the Special Immigrant Visa programs. They assist Iraqis who have applied to SIV. The program is not open to new applications.

– UNHCR Assistance. For exceptionally vulnerable cases, and in cooperation with local UNHCR offices, they can refer a case to UNHCR to request protection services. The decision regarding any follow-up ultimately rests with UNHCR.

To contact them, send an email with your full name, telephone number, email address and a brief description of your need for legal services in English or Arabic to info@refugeerights.org. They are not able to assist everyone who contacts them, and emailing us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Harikar Non-Governmental Organization

www.harikar.org/
Harikar NGO, Nohadra Quarter, Close to Korek Co., Jeen Street 32/4, Dohuk AB 1005, Jihan Building. Appt. # 6, Dohuk, Iraq
Tel.: +964 62 76 19 837
Contact Person: Mr. Salah Yaseen Majid, Program Coordinator
Email: salah.tilari@gmail.com

The Protection and Assistance Center (PAC) of the Harikar NGO is in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Kurdish autonomous region, Iraq. It is a project implemented by the Civil Development Organization (CDO) in partnership with UNHCR. PAC is providing services to UNHCR’s ‘Persons of Concern (PoC)’ who are the refugees, IDPs, asylum seekers, returnees, stateless persons, and vulnerable persons from the host community. Legal aid is the main service provided but it also provides psycho-social services, health awareness and sexual and gender based violence awareness, in addition to the material assistances like cash and non-food items.

It deals mainly with cases involving certification of births, marriage contracts, divorce, death, inheritance, juvenile cases, residence of foreigners, and criminal law. It represents clients before administrative courts, juvenile courts and the court of inquiry. In addition to these legal cases, PAC is working on: Civil ID, Public Distribution System cards, registration at the Ministry of Displacement and Migration, nationality and health care.

United Foundation for Relief and Abiding Development

Government Building Street, Near Khalil Aga Building, Kirkuk, Iraq
Tel: +964 77 04 45 648
Email: Fuad2459@yahoo.com
Provides material and social assistance to returnees and displaced people amongst other needy groups.

ANTI-FGM/C ORGANISATIONS IN IRAQ

Stop FGM in Kurdistan

c/o Wadi Office Iraq, Bakhtiari 113 Hakari, Street 14, House 8, Suleymaniah Kurdistan, Iraq
Tel.: +964-7701-588173
Email: stopfgmkurdistan@yahoo.com

Stop FGM in Kurdistan is a network of local and international organizations, human rights activists, artists and journalists. Supported by local media, the campaign succeeded in mobilizing the public and initiating a – hitherto unthinkable – public debate. In 2011 finally the Kurdish Parliament adopted a comprehensive law against many forms of violence against women and children, including female genital mutilation. Since then the campaign is mainly focusing on the implementation of this law.

Wadi – Iraq

Bakhtiary, Section 113, Street 34, House 21, Suleymaniah Kurdistan
Tel.: 00964-7701-588173

Founded in 1992, the Iraqi-German association WADI supports various programs and projects to empower people and strengthen human rights in the Middle East. WADI focuses on women’s rights with training and literacy classes, assistance for victims of domestic violence and building spaces for women and girls. The campaign “Stop FGM Kurdistan” is one of WADIs most renown activities. Democracy building is another focal point. We support youth media, help with setting up citizen interest groups and lobby for democratic rights.