The Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and Department of Women’s Affairs and Human Rights Launch Five Women Care Units to Support Survivors of Violence

Ramadi, 16 September 2025 – The Ministry of Health, in partnership with UNICEF and the Department of Women’s Affairs and Human Rights, today inaugurated a new Women Care Unit at Ramadi Maternity Hospital. The facility will provide women and girls who are survivors of violence with integrated health, protection, and psychosocial services in one safe and confidential location.

“The Ramadi Directorate of Health is proud to host this new Women Care Unit. This initiative strengthens support for survivors of violence in Anbar and guarantees access to quality health and protection services. We remain committed to working with UNICEF and our partners to expand these services and raise community awareness,” said Dr. Khader Khalaf Director General of Anbar Health Department.

The Women Care Unit is part of a nationwide initiative to expand survivor-centered services across Iraq. It brings together medical care, psychosocial support, legal guidance, and protection referrals under one roof, ensuring that survivors receive compassionate and dignified care without the need to navigate multiple facilities.

“Every woman and girl survivor of violence has the right to live free from harm. These units are safe spaces where survivors can access the care, protection, and support they need, all in one place. By integrating services, we remove barriers and ensure survivors are treated with dignity and respect,” said Mr. Christian Skoog, UNICEF Representative in Iraq.

With the opening of the Ramadi facility, five hospitals across Iraq now provide these lifesaving services: Yarmouk Hospital (Baghdad-Karkh), Al-Shaab Hospital (Baghdad-Rusafa), Amirya Al-Fallujah Hospital (Anbar), and the Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital (Muthanna).

Violence against women and girls remains a pressing challenge in Iraq, with nearly one in four ever-married women having experienced violence. Initiatives such as the Women Care Units are essential to breaking the cycle of abuse, building resilience, and ensuring survivors can access immediate and comprehensive support.

This initiative has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Government of Germany through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).