Urgent call for donations

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey in financial trouble

For 20 years the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFTHuman Rights Foundation of Turkey ) has carried out treatment and rehabilitation of torture survivors and documented human rights violations in the country. Besides private donations support has come from the EU Commission and other organizations. The major contribution, however, came from the Commission.

Since the rules for application to the EU Commission changed, the HRFT will not receive any support from there in 2011 and 2012. Therefore, the HRFT urgently needs additional resources. The staff has already contributed by agreeing to lower wages or continue to work as voluntaries.

Currently the HRFT is running 5 offices (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Diyarbakir) and a contact office in Van. Until the end of 2009 moire than 12,000 people were treated (free of charge) at these place for torture related health problems. In 2010 363 torture survivors applied for treatment and during the first quarter of this year another 109 victims have asked for treatment.

Just like support groups in other European countries the Democratic Turkey Forum wants to raise funds in Germany (contributions from other countries are also welcome). You can sent donations (in Germany exempted from tax) to

   * Demokratische Türkeiforum
   * Postbank Hamburg
   * BLZ 200 100 20
   * Konto-Nr. 0741 864 205

Sending money from outside Germany please use

  * Demokratisches Türkeiforum
  * IBAN DE79 2001 0020 0741 8642 05
  * BIC PBNKDEFF