Fundraising Working group

The European network was created in April 2003 during a first plenary meeting (organised by the IRCT Brussels in Blankenberge, Belgium). The fundraising working group was one of the first groups funded in Blankenberge.

The initial objective of the Fundraising group was to „share skills and experiences in local fundraising methods, and develop common strategies to lobby governments to increase overall funding“.

The group specified these objectives during the meeting in Cambridge in 2003 (term of references):
· increase overall funding for rehabilitation of torture victims;
· ensure continued international funding for existing as well as for new centre initiatives in Europe;
· improve knowledge and exchange experience concerning fundraising;
· contribute to the financial sustainability of the European network and its activities;
· share information on best fundraising practice with networks and individual centres in other regions;
· encourage collaboration in terms of fundraising among international NGOs involved in the fight against torture.

Coordination of the group:

  • Caroline Pincemin (IRCT Brussels) from 2003 to 2004 (and partially in 2005);
  • Sandra Jensen (IRCT Brussels) and Rémi Renon (Association Primo Levi) in 2005;
  • Sonia Herrero (IRCT Brussels) in 2006;
  • Rémi Renon (Association Primo Levi) from 2006 since 2010
  • Eléonore Morel (Association Primo Levi) since 2010

Since 2003 the group has been focusing mainly on lobbying actions aiming at maintaining or increasing international funds for rehabilitation of torture victims, especially the following financial sources:
· EuropeAid, EIDHR
· UN Fund for torture victims

Summary of past activities:
· 2003 (Blankenberge, Belgium; Cambridge, UK):

  • open letter to MEPs for maintaining the 2004 budget for rehabilitation in EIDHR; contacts with MEPs;
  • joint letter to the UNVFVT (chairman of board of trustees + High commissioner for Human rights) for thanking the Fund of its support to all centres and asking for increased grants;
  • definition of terms of reference for the group

· 2004 (Sinaia, Romania)

  • survey on evaluation missions conducted by donors in centres
  • joint appeal to European governments for increased contributions to the UN Fund; workshop with Ennio Boati (UN Fund);
  • awareness campaign among newly elected MEPs;

· 2005 (Geneva, Switzerland)

  • workshop with Sonia Herrero (European Commission): feedback on evaluation of centres;
  • joint appeal to the European Parliament for increased budget in EIDHR;
  • continuation of the joint appeal to European governments for increased contributions to the UN Fund;
  • survey on conditions for mainstreaming of rehabilitation into national health systems;
  • drafting a code of conduct for evaluations.

· 2006 (Paris, France)

  • continuation of the joint appeal to European governments for increased contributions to the UN Fund (new strategy);
  • approaching the Council of Europe for fundraising support;
  • joint appeal to the European commission and the European Parliament for increasing the EIDHR budget
  • lobbying tool: report on conditions for mainstreaming

· 2007 (Antalya, Turkey)

  • reminder to European governments for increased contributions to the UN Fund;
  • contacts with officers and parliamentarians in the Council of Europe;
  • following-up budget reshuffling and other developments (evaluation mission, call for proposals) in the EC (EuropeAid): meetings in Brussels, collaboration with the IRCT Brussels
  • brainstorming in relation to the access of donors to patients‘ files (evaluation mission)