Assistance for victims of violence

the image shows hands in blue and yellow work gloves planting a seedling. Next to it stands a red shovel.

Everyone has the right to assistance, and violence is never the fault of the victim.

If you are or have experienced domestic abuse, or if you know of someone who is in that situation, there is help available.

You can always call 112, and you can also get help from various grassroots organizations or social services.

Where do I assistance from violence?

You can always call 112 and you can also reach out to various grassroots organizations and social services.

The capital area

The Women’s Shelter (Kvennaathvarfið)
24-hour emergency number: 561-1205 
Email: Kvennaathvarf@kvennaathvarf.is

The Women‘s Shelter provides temporary housing and counseling to abused women and their children. The services are for those who have been physically and/or psychologically abused by their current or former partner. The women’s relatives and family members are also welcome to contact the shelter to get advice and/or support.

24-hour phone support is available at 561 1205. Women can call to discuss their issues and get support and information.
Free counseling, support, and information is also available for women who are not staying at the shelter.

You must call 561 1205 in advance to make an appointment.

City of Reykjavík Centers
Reykjavík City Service Center
Telephone: 411-1111 
Email: upplysingar@reykjavik.is

The Center’s of Reykjavík City offer victims of domestic abuse diverse counseling and services. You can click on Reykjavík City Centers above to find your Center and call or email the Reykjavík City Service Center for information or to be connected to your Center.

Bjarkarhlíð Family Justice Center
Telephone: 553-3000 
Email: bjarkarhlid@bjarkarhlid.is 
Address: at Bústaðavegur, 108 Reykjavík

Bjarkarhlíð Family Justice Center is a one-stop-shop for victims of violence, 18 years of age or older. Victims receive counseling, support, and information. The service is nationwide, for all genders and free of charge.

Stígamót - Education and Counseling Center for Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Violence
Telephone: 562-6868 / 800-6868 
Email: stigamot@stigamot.is 
Address: Síðumúli 23, 108 Reykjavík

Stígamót offers free individual counseling for survivors of rape, sexual molestation, sexual harassment, pornographic exploitation, and prostitution. Services are also extended to family members and loved ones of survivors.

People from the age of 18 come to Stígamót because of the violence they have suffered, both in childhood and in adulthood. Many people go there because of violence that occurred years and even decades earlier. It should be noted that men are equally welcome at Stígamót and approximately 10-15% of those who seek assistance there are men.

Stígamót also provides services in the Westfjords. Email: karen@stigamot.is

Stígamót also provides services in Egilsstaðir. Email: eva@stigamot.is

Rape Crisis Center
Telephone: 543-1000 - Main switchboard at Landspítali Hospital (LSH) 
543-2000 - LSH Emergency Room 
543-2094 - Daytime emergencies 
543-2085 - LSH Crisis Center
Address: The Emergency Room at LSH in Fossvogur

It is important to go as soon as possible after the assault. You can go directly to the Emergency Room of the hospital in Fossvogur (on Bústaðavegur) and ask for rape crisis assistance. 
You can also ask for police assistance at the Emergency Room. The services are for men and women.

The objective of the Rape Crisis Center is to ensure the welfare and legal status of those seeking services because of rape, attempted rape, or other sexual abuse.

The Rape Crisis Center aims to reduce or prevent psychological and physical health damage that is often the consequence of sexual violence.

People seeking the assistance of the Rape Crisis Center are shown the utmost consideration and warmth, taking care that they are not met with disbelief or suspicion.

Multicultural Information Centre

Telephone: 450-3090 
Icelandic - English - Spanish - Russian - Ukrainian - Polish - Arabic). 
Open Mondays to Thursdays from 9am-3pm, and Fridays from 9am-12pm. 
Email: mcc@mcc.is 
Website: www.mcc.is

At the Multicultural Information Center you can find various information concerning immigrants, Icelandic society, learning Icelandic, rights and obligations, interpretation, translation, and more.

Contact us:

  • chat with a counselor using the speech bubble on the Multicultural Information Center website (chat is open 9am to 11am on weekdays).
  • email questions or book an appointment for an in-person or online video call: mcc@vmst.is
  • call (+354) 450-3090 (Monday to Thursday 9am to 3pm and Friday 9am to 12pm)

Women‘s Counseling Center (Kvennaráðgjöfin)
Telephone: 552-1500 
Address: Túngata 14, 101 Reykjavík

The Women’s Counseling Center offers free legal advice and social services.

The Center is open Tuesdays from 8 pm-10 pm and Thursdays from 2 pm-4 pm.

The main purpose of the Center is to provide support and counseling for women, but the Women's Counseling Center is open to everyone and can simply call or visit them. The service is free and anonymous if requested. 
The Women’s Counseling Center employs lawyers and social workers and it has volunteers from the study of law as well as social work.

The Icelandic Human Rights Center
Telephone: 552-2720 
Address: Túngata 14, 101 Reykjavík

Free legal advice for immigrants. If an interpreter is needed the Center provides one free of charge and the request for interpretation must be made at the time of booking an appointment.

W.O.M.E.N. in Iceland
Telephone: 788-7574
Address: Túngata 14, 2nd floor

Peer counseling for women of foreign origin on Tuesday evenings from 8 pm to 10 pm. Stop by, meet new people, drink tea, and talk to women who speak your language.

Odwaga jest kobietą - Support for Polish women who are victims of violence 
Empowerment for Polish women. 
The service is free of charge. 
Contact us through our Facebook page Odwaga jest kobietą or call 788 7574.

B.A.C.A. (Bikers Against Child Abuse)
Telephone: 780 2131 
Email: Arc@ic-isl.bacaworld.org 
A group of bikers who support children who have experienced abuse.

Rural areas

Akureyri Women’s Shelter
Telephone: 561-1205 
Email: nordurland@kvennaathvarfid.is
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kvennaathvarf

The Women‘s Shelter provides temporary housing and counseling to abused women and their children. The services are for those who have been physically and/or psychologically abused by their current or former partner. The women’s relatives and family members are also welcome to contact the shelter to get advice and/or support.

The Shelter is also open to female rape victims.

24-hour phone support is available at 561 1205. Women can call to discuss their issues and get support and information.

Free counseling, support, and information is also available for women who are not staying at the shelter.

You must call 561 1205 in advance to make an appointment.

The Women‘s Shelter also has support groups that hold regular meetings where a few women and a professional facilitator from the Shelter meet together for discussion and support. You must attend a counseling session before attending the support groups.

Aflið
Telephone: 461-5959 / 857-5959 
Email: AflidAkureyri@gmail.com 
Address: Brekkugata 34, 600 Akureyri

The sister organization of Stígamót in Akureyri.

Aflið offers counseling for victims of sexual and/or domestic abuse of all genders as well as their friends and families.

Complete confidentiality and discretion are ensured.

Bjarmahlíð, Akureyri
Telephone: 551-2520 
Email: bjarmahlid@bjarmahlid.is 
Address: Aðalstræti 14, 600 Akureyri

Bjarmahlíð is a center for victims of violence and offers counseling and information for people who have been abused. All work with victims of violence at Bjarmahlíð is done on their own terms. All services and counseling are under one roof with the aim of making it easier for victims to seek assistance.

Telephone number of the Rape Emergency Ward in Akureyri: 463-0800

Sigurhæðir, Selfoss
Telephone: 834-5566 
Email: sigur@sigurhaedir.is 
Address: Þórsmörk 7, 800 Selfoss

Sigurhæðir offers coordinated counseling, support, and services to women living in South Iceland, aged 18 or older. They offer individual and group therapy as well as specialized stress and trauma therapy. Police is also available at Sigurhæðir to provide advice and information, as is legal advice. Special education on the rights of immigrant women is also available, with an interpreter if needed.

Social services in your municipality also offer various forms of counseling and assistance.