Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Press releases Multiple Mechanisms
Default title
21 June 2000
Share
21 June 2000
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has approved, on behalf of the Secretary-General, grants amounting to $7 million to organizations supporting victims of torture.
These grants were recommended by the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture at its nineteenth session, held in Geneva from 15 to 26 May 2000. The Board is an advisory body to the Secretary-General. The Fund was established by the General Assembly in 1981.
Grants were allocated to about 150 organizations providing medical, psychological, social, economic, legal, humanitarian or other assistance to victims of torture and members of their families from all over the world. The Board also recommended a few grants to organize training for health professionals, social workers, psychologists and other professionals.
The Board recommended to set apart an amount of $300,000 for emergency assistance for victims of torture in countries where no assistance is available. High priority should be given to victims of amputation and mutilation in Sierra Leone, according to the Board.
It has been estimated that in 1997 about 60,000 victims and members of their families were assisted through the support of the Fund.
For the year 2000, the Board has received requests for grants which came to more than $10 million, an increase of more than $2 million in comparison with 1999. However, following appeals made by the General Assembly (resolution 54/156), the Commission on Human Rights (resolution 2000/43) and the High Commissioner, several donor Governments increased the level of contributions paid, so that consideration might be given to the increasing demand for assistance. The main donor to the Fund, the United States, increased its contribution from $3 million in 1999 to $5 million this year.
The Board estimates that applications for new grants for the year 2001 will amount to at least $11 million. New applications for 2001 should be submitted to the secretariat of the Fund by 31 December 2000. New voluntary contributions should be received before 1 March 2001, as recommended by the Commission on Human Rights.
Detailed information will be available in the Secretary-General's annual report on the Fund to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session (last Report A/54/177).
For more information, please contact the Fund's secretariat at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Trust Funds Unit, telephone (41.22) 917.93.15, fax (41.22) 917.90.17, e-mail: dpremont.hchr@ unog.ch, website: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/9/ vftortur.htm
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has approved, on behalf of the Secretary-General, grants amounting to $7 million to organizations supporting victims of torture.
These grants were recommended by the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture at its nineteenth session, held in Geneva from 15 to 26 May 2000. The Board is an advisory body to the Secretary-General. The Fund was established by the General Assembly in 1981.
Grants were allocated to about 150 organizations providing medical, psychological, social, economic, legal, humanitarian or other assistance to victims of torture and members of their families from all over the world. The Board also recommended a few grants to organize training for health professionals, social workers, psychologists and other professionals.
The Board recommended to set apart an amount of $300,000 for emergency assistance for victims of torture in countries where no assistance is available. High priority should be given to victims of amputation and mutilation in Sierra Leone, according to the Board.
It has been estimated that in 1997 about 60,000 victims and members of their families were assisted through the support of the Fund.
For the year 2000, the Board has received requests for grants which came to more than $10 million, an increase of more than $2 million in comparison with 1999. However, following appeals made by the General Assembly (resolution 54/156), the Commission on Human Rights (resolution 2000/43) and the High Commissioner, several donor Governments increased the level of contributions paid, so that consideration might be given to the increasing demand for assistance. The main donor to the Fund, the United States, increased its contribution from $3 million in 1999 to $5 million this year.
The Board estimates that applications for new grants for the year 2001 will amount to at least $11 million. New applications for 2001 should be submitted to the secretariat of the Fund by 31 December 2000. New voluntary contributions should be received before 1 March 2001, as recommended by the Commission on Human Rights.
Detailed information will be available in the Secretary-General's annual report on the Fund to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session (last Report A/54/177).
For more information, please contact the Fund's secretariat at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Trust Funds Unit, telephone (41.22) 917.93.15, fax (41.22) 917.90.17, e-mail: dpremont.hchr@ unog.ch, website: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/9/ vftortur.htm