Kurdish Human Rights Watch was established by the former President of KHRW, the honorable Mustafa Karadaghi in 1989 and incorporated in 1991. The first KHRW office opened in the U.S. was the Fairfax Center. Since our inception we have opened six other stateside affiliate centers, in addition to four in Iraq. KHRW started as a human rights advocacy group, and later developed into a community-based service organization. KHRW Fairfax headquarters oversees the administration of all national and international assistance programs and provides training and technical assistance to its affiliates. KHRW Fairfax implements the following domestic assistance programs:

• Transitional Housing and Support Services – With funding from HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development), KHRW-Fairfax provides homeless families with transitional housing and comprehensive support services, including assistance to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency and permanent housing through case management, coaching, life skills training, and detailed guidance. This involves teaching essential mainstream resource accessibility, including skills to obtain employment, manage banking and finances, and resolving setbacks.
• Individual Development Account & Micro-enterprise – With funding from ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement), and in partnership with George Mason University and Provident Bank, this program increases the economic independence of refugee participants, through IDA matched savings with an emphasis on asset acquisition opportunities and the development of family financial management practices and the increase of financial literacy.
• Translation & Interpretation – translate and interpret legal, medical, educational forms and statements. 
• Family Enrichment – The program is implemented through partnerships with refugee community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and funding from the ORR Smart Marriage initiative. This program develops refugee family wellness practices. These include roles of family members, effective parenting by collaborative couples, and basic adjustments in marriages and familial relationships for refugees in the U.S. KHRW’s key partner is the Family Wellness Program, Inc.
• Ethnic Organizing/Integrating – With funding from ORR, KHRW develops the self-help capacity for newly arrived refugees. Ethnic Organizing develops effective refugee community leaders to strengthen their communities and service programs that enable refugees to achieve self-sufficiency and integration.
• Social Services – Provide support and self-sufficiency services to refugee families, and other immigrant families in the U.S. including assistance with employment, social adjustment referrals and coaching. These services also include relationship conflicts, parenting and domestic violence prevention.