Jiyan Foundation Annual for Human Rights Report Contents Welcome. Ma’ali from Mosul escaped from ISIS captivity and Introduction found refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where we were able to support her and her family. We 1 Welcome chose her story to welcome you to our annual report 2 Mission 2015/16, and kindly invite you to look back on the Jiyan Foundation’s activities on the following pages. A great deal has happened. Programs 4 Survivors of Torture & Terror “I still remember the terrorists arriving in Mosul with their pick-up trucks, the ones you see on TV. 6 Refugees & Displaced Persons They were passing by our house. My children were very afraid. There was shelling. My eight-year-old 8 Victims of Genocide son was afraid of the gunshots and explosions to the point where if I wanted to go to the bathroom, 10 Women's Rights he would come with me. When I slept, he slept be- side me. Also, I have a chronic illness. My health 12 Children's Rights was stable, but when ISIS terrorists attacked us, my condition worsened. 14 Civil Society & Democracy We fled to Sulaymaniyah, where I now receive 16 Professional Training treatment at the Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights. The psychotherapist helped me look at all the things that happened to me – not only because of ISIS, but also in my childhood. I started to see Spotlight that these were events which had now passed, and I should not waste the present because of the past. 18 Jiyan Clinic My mental health has become much better, and my chronic condition has improved too. At the 20 Interview beginning, our financial situation was very bad. I could not afford to buy medicine for my illness. 22 Healing Garden But the Jiyan Foundation gave me free medication until my husband found work here. I still visit the 24 Art and Therapy Jiyan Foundation every month, and they offered me medicine, treatment and psychological sup- 26 Impressions port for free. They also helped my children and my entire family. They gave me back hope in life.” Organization 30 Facts & Figures 32 Team 36 Offices 37 Chart 38 Partners & Supporters Ma'ali at our center in Sulaymaniyah 40 Donations Welcome | 1 UN describes Iraq's "Chemical Ali" Hassan Start of the revolution in Syria. Iraqi voters approve federal "Islamic State" conquers Anbar and humanitarian crisis as "one of the al-Majid executed for Historical constitution and elect new parliament. Mosul, declares caliphate. Jiyan Clinic world's worst", and international crimes of genocide. Children's organizations report deteriorating Developments Rights human rights situation. First post-Saddam Saddam Hussein executed for US completes withdrawal elections in Kurdistan crimes against humanity. of troops from Iraq. Sinjar massacre: Region of Iraq. Jiyan US delivers aid to Yazidis and launches airstrikes Victims of More than one Programs against "Islamic State". Government forces together with Genocide million refugees Kurdish Peshmerga, allied militias, Victims of Fall of the Ba'ath and internally and international support start Torture Escalating terrorist President Obama announces Erbil regime in Iraq. Refugees & displaced retaking ISIS-held territories, & Terror attacks. plan for withdrawal of Center Minorities Sectarian war intensifies, more persons reside in including Anbar, Ramadi, Falluja, US troops. than 900 casualties per month. Kurdistan-Iraq. and Mosul. 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Jiyan Halabja Democracy Kirkuk Branches Sulay- Center Duhok & Civil Society Khanke Center maniyah Center Domiz Camp Center Healing Camp Center Garden Center Women's Rights Chamchamal Our Mission Center Our Beneficiaries Turkey The Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights assists victims of Each year, the Jiyan Foundation violence and persecution in Iraq. We strive for a democratic assists more than 6,000 victims of Iraqi Kurdistan society where the dignity of the human person is protected, human rights violations. On average, Iran 50 % of those who seek our help are Duhok where adults and children enjoy the right to life and liberty, female adults, while 30 % are children and where citizens are free from torture and terror. and adolescents. The majority of our KOBANE Erbil clients are Kurds, followed by Arabs, MOSUL Turkmens, and Assyrians. ALEPPO Sulaymaniyah Our Values Since then, we have established several AR-RAQQAH branches throughout Kurdistan-Iraq Our Team The core values guiding our work are where more than 19,000 traumatized Kirkuk expressed in the Universal Declaration men, women and children have re- The mission of the Jiyan Foundation is of Human Rights. We believe in the ceived help. carried out by a young team of multi- HOMS Syria Chamchamal inherent dignity of the human person lingual professionals. Our staff in Iraq Halabja and seek to promote respect for Our Work includes medical doctors, psychother- the human rights and fundamental apists and community health workers freedoms laid down in the Universal The Jiyan Foundation promotes the as well as pedagogues, lawyers, and DAMASCUS BAGHDAD Declaration. We help survivors of physical rehabilitation, mental well- project managers. human rights abuses regardless of being and social reintegration of Iraq their age, gender, ethnicity or spiritual victims and their family members by Jîyan ( ) is the Kurdish word Our Partners ʒiaːn beliefs. providing them with free-of-charge for life. Our logo is a calligraphic medical treatment, psychotherapeutic Since its inception, the Jiyan Foun- artwork spelling out the name of our organization in Arabic and Our History support and socio-legal counseling. In dation has cooperated very closely with Kurdish. It was designed by a addition, we seek to protect survivors of the Center Ueberleben. In Iraq, our torture survivor from Iraq who In 2005, we started our activities in past human rights abuses and prevent team coordinates with a wide range spent several years of his life in the multiethnic city of Kirkuk, where future acts of violence through political of non-governmental organizations the infamous Abu Ghraib prison. we opened the first rehabilitation advocacy, human rights education and as well as health institutions and center for victims of torture in Iraq. public awareness-raising programs. governmental agencies. Saudi Arabia 2 | Introduction M i s s i o n | 3 torture, inhuman treatment and gen- As part of the training, experienced In June 2016, the Jiyan Foundation brought der-based violence. The project was forensic doctors and legal experts from together survivors of torture for a panel funded by the European Instrument for the Human Rights Foundation in Tur- discussion to mark the International Day in Democracy and Human Rights. key introduced our staff to the histo- Support of Victims of Torture. ry, purpose and scope of application As part of the project, the Jiyan Foun- of the Istanbul Protocol. Participants dation assisted more than 3,000 cli- also learned how to write standard- ents including 400 children and 300 ized medico-legal reports. Trainer juvenile prisoners. Dr. Mechthild Wenk-Ansohn from Public campaign: "The Jiyan Foundation revived my physically and artistically." the Center Ueberleben in Berlin has Our experts offered diagnostics, assess- been providing ongoing supervision ment, medical treatment, psychological to participants since the training was Justice for services and legal counseling. We also completed. ran information activities to empower Victims of Torture survivors, because understanding one’s Yousif Salih, member of our Board of Directors and head of our Kirkuk symptoms, knowing one’s rights and branch, talks about the challenges and rewards of working for the Jiyan With support from the European Union and the German Foreign sharing experiences with others are all Foundation Office, the Jiyan Foundation offers treatment to survivors of important parts of the healing process. "I joined the Jiyan Foundation in 2005, when the first rehabilitation center for torture and terror. Our interdisciplinary teams also assist our In addition to documentation of torture victims was set up in Kirkuk. The security situation in the city has since cases of torture and inhuman treat- worsened, and we are working in one of the most challenging places in the clients in voicing their needs, reasserting their dignity and ment, the project included training for world. In the last two years alone, one million refugees and internally displaced claiming their rights. doctors, therapists, lawyers and prison people have sought safety here from the war in Syria and from the violence staff to make sure they know the needs in western Iraq. We are one of the few organizations on the ground, assisting of torture survivors and are able to as- people with medical and psychological care. During the past four decades, the peo- Because the Government of Iraq sist them. There are not enough skilled professionals or financial resources available in ple of Kurdistan-Iraq have experienced has largely neglected its duty to as- Iraq to address the enormous needs for support, but in my work for the Jiyan successive waves of severe human sist survivors of torture and terror, Documenting Torture and Foundation I experience every day the positive changes we are able to bring to rights abuses. The Jiyan Foundation our services are helping people who Inhuman Treatment people's lives. Things take a better turn for our patients because of the support All human beings are born free and offers medical, psychotherapeutic, would otherwise be left untreated. we give them, so there is a feeling that our work contributes to making the world equal in dignity and rights. Every- social and legal assistance to those Between December 2015 and April 2016, a little better. I feel fortunate to be doing this work, which corresponds to my one has the right to life, liberty and who have suffered torture, inhuman Working Together with 18 therapists, psychiatrists and medi- values and the things I believe in.