The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is organizing
two graduation ceremonies in the eastern cities of Qamishly and
Deir Ezzor. Sixty Iraqi women in Qamishly, who have successfully
completed a vocational training in sewing and hairstyling skills
and 25 Iraqi women in Deir Ezzor, who have completed vocational
training in hairstyling skills, will receive training certificates.

Under the € 1.5 million European Union (EU)-funded IOM
project "Direct Assistance to Iraqi Female Headed Families and
Victims of Trafficking in Syria", vocational training was carried
out in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the
Syrian General Women's Union (SGWU).

In total, vocational training courses will build capacities of
500 Iraqi women and provide them with skills for small income
generating activities. The overall aim of the project is to provide
long-term assistance to this vulnerable group and consequently
reduce the risk of trafficking.

A second round of training will continue in January in these and
other locations in the north-eastern area of Syria.

Other activities of the project include awareness-raising of the
most vulnerable Iraqi groups, distribution of emergency kits to
reduce vulnerability, the provision of medical assistance and a
shelter for identified victims of trafficking, as well as assisted
voluntary return and reintegration services. The overall aim of
this project is to provide comprehensive assistance and protection
to vulnerable Iraqi female-headed families and victims of
trafficking in Syria.

Contact:

Elna Sondergaard

IOM Damascus

Tel: 963-11-6121370, Ext. 306

E-mail: "mailto:esondergaard@iom.int">esondergaard@iom.int

Kinda Katranji

Delegation of the European Union to Syria

Tel: +963-11-332 7640, Ext. 149

E-mail: "mailto:kinda.katranji@ec.europa.eu">kinda.katranji@ec.europa.eu