Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights "in Poland, seated in Warsaw, was established in 1989. Its emergence was preceded by 7 years of work of Helsinki Committee in Poland, which had operated in the underground since 1982. After the political transformation in 1989 members of the Committee decided to come out into the open and to establish an independent institute for education and research in human rights. As independent institutes were banned under Polish law at that time, it was decided that a foundation would be formed to perform those functions.

"Today, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights is among the most experienced and professional human rights NGOs operating in Europe.

"The funds for the Foundation's activities are raised from large foundations such as the Ford Foundation, Open Society Institute, Charles Stewart MOTT Foundation, Stefan Batory Foundation, German Marshall Fund, Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, Freedom House; from our NGO associates such as the International Commission of Jurists Swedish Section, Netherlands Helsinki Committee, IDEE; from international institutions such as the Council of Europe, OSCE/ODHIR, from the European Union and the UN; and also from private sponsors."

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Joanna Hosaniak