Initiatives

Our most important current initiative is the Strategic Fund for Turkey, which was set up by Andrew Puddephat in 2005 to support small, locally led groups working in the fields of Human Rights, Women’s Rights, Minority Rights and Social and Environmental Justice.

The inspiration for the Fund springs from the belief that supporting local, rights based, groups is the best way to encourage a culture of respect for human rights and of helping to cement the foundations of civil society. It was set up at a crucial time in Turkish history, as the nation debates its future path, particularly the question of EU accession.

The Fund recognises Turkey’s strategic importance as a bridge between Europe and Asia, between Islamic, secular, and Christian traditions, and as a democracy.

The Fund is independent, non political and non partisan. It draws its guiding principles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Turkey is a signatory. It also helps local groups hold Turkey to its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Turkey was a founding signatory.

Grant History

SRT has supported the Strategic Fund for Turkey since 2005.
Current grant: £870,000 over three years.