We empower survivors take their lives back.

Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights is a charitable organization supporting survivors of human rights violations, defending fundamental freedoms, and promoting democratic values. Our programs provide mental health and medical treatment, and other support services to survivors of trauma, terror, domestic violence and human rights violations in Kurdistan-Iraq, Iraq, and northeast Syria.

Our monthly newsletter is designed to keep our community informed on our work supporting survivors of trauma, terror, domestic violence, and human rights violations in the regions we serve.

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Jiyan and Human Rights

Every person has a right to enjoy “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health”*. This means that the base of our work, mental health, is a human right!

Not every state has the opportunity to help its citizens achieve this maximum level of health. Especially in countries where past conflicts and terror have traumatized many people, there is a lack of care options in the psychotherapeutic field.

The Jiyan Foundation was established in 2005 to fill this gap and to provide care for psychologically distressed survivors and bereaved families of victims of human rights violations in Iraq.

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2024 Open Letter to Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in advance of the annual Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security

In advance of the October 2024 Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, this open letter was sent to UN Member States on behalf of Jiyan Foundation and 627 civil society signatories from 110 countries working on issues related to gender equality and women’s rights, peace and security, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and protection of civilians. The letter calls on the Security Council and Member States to take decisive action to protect women’s rights in conflicts and crises around the world.

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