Psychological
Consequences of Trauma Experiences on the Development of Migrated Kurdish
Women in the European Union
IFWF Publications No. 1 - ISBN / EAN: 978-90-812050-1-6 Bilingual: English /
Kurdish, 376 pages, paperback Published: August 2007
This research report is the result of an empirical study. During the process
of the survey 1,127 Kurdish female migrants and refugees in five
European countries and Turkey have been consulted. The one year’s study was
coordinated by the International Free Women’s Foundation (Rotterdam)
and conducted in co-operation with the Department for Clinical Psychology at
Utrecht University and the Kurdistan Information Centre (Paris). A
broad spectrum of Kurdish women associations and experts contributed to the
research’s progress and implementation. The research report is so far
available in English and Kurdish languages. It offers important information,
which makes it possible to develop an understanding of the dimensions and
reciprocal effects of gender-based violence and discrimination, in relation
to ethnic and political pursuit, experiences of war and migration experiences
as well as their effects on the lives and health of Kurdish migrant women. A
unique approach of this study is the examination of reasons for and effects
of Kurdish women’s migration in the framework of internal displacement within
Turkey in comparison to their migration process into countries of the
European Union.
The book consists of four main chapters: The introduction offers an overview
on the historical context and the current situation of Kurdish
women in their homelands as well as on their migration to Europe. In the
second chapter, the theoretical conception and methodology of the survey
are described. On the basis the questionnaires’ evaluation important
statistic data and scientific findings have been compiled concerning the
psychological consequences of trauma experiences and their effects on Kurdish
migrant women’s lives and health. The third chapter contains recommendations
for women’s organisations, health care services and
practitioners as well as for EU-policy makers and institutions with the
request to contribute in their fields of concern to the prevention of
avoidable trauma experiences as well as to the necessary support for Kurdish
migrant women suffering from trauma. In the fourth chapter five Kurdish
migrant women, who were interviewed in the course of the project, have their
say. Their testimonies give us an impression of the concrete human life
experiences, which hide themselves behind the statistic data. Finally an
extensive bibliography and the questionnaire, which has been applied in the
in the research process, are attached. The available results show
impressively the fact that apart from the material and physical consequences
of gender based and racist violence, war and displacement Kurdish migrant
women suffer in particular also from
the long-term, psychological and mental wounds that have been caused by them.
Therefore, the published report requests at the same time to perceive the
complex situation of Kurdish migrant women from both a scientific and human
angle. Concomitant it is a call for cooperation with Kurdish women to achieve
their rights to justice, healing and health.
Editors: International Free Women’s Foundation, Rotterdam, Utrecht
University, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Kurdistan
Information Centre CIK, Paris
Financial Support: European Commission Daphne Programme and Foundation CIBO
Contact for Orders: International Free Women’s Foundation, Willebrordusplein
10a
NL-3037 TC Rotterdam
Phone: 0031 (0) 10 465 18 00
Fax: 0031 (0) 10 265 14 65