About - KTIHV

Advocating for Human Rights Since 2005

Who are we ?

The Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation (TCHRF) is a non-governmental organization that has been conducting human rights-focused work in the northern part of Cyprus since 2005.

In the 2004 referendum held simultaneously in Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of the Annan Plan, hoping for a comprehensive resolution to the Cyprus issue. However, the plan failed due to insufficient approval from both sides. Following this process, 52 Turkish Cypriots from various professional backgrounds established the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation (TCHRF) in February 2005, aiming to address fundamental human rights issues and contribute to resolving the Cyprus conflict.

TCHRF’s work is not limited to monitoring human rights violations against Turkish Cypriots. It adopts an activist approach that advocates for the rights of all individuals living in the region. The foundation strives to combat human rights violations affecting all segments of society, including migrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, workers, and other disadvantaged groups.

Guided by the principles of freedom, equality, and justice, TCHRF carries out activities in law, education, public awareness, and advocacy. The foundation seeks to highlight human rights violations in the northern part of Cyprus while also engaging in advocacy and raising public awareness in response to these violations.

Additionally, TCHRF collaborates with local and international human rights networks to create broader awareness of human rights violations in the region.

Our Vision

To work towards a democratic structure in the northern part of Cyprus based on human rights.
To conduct activities in the fields of law, education, public awareness, and advocacy in line with the principles of freedom, equality, and justice.
To promote a solution in Cyprus based on the political equality of both communities and to take initiatives within the framework of both collective and individual rights.

Our Commitments

To protect fundamental human rights and advocate for individuals’ rights and interests related to their social, cultural, ethnic, religious, gender, or political identities.
To oppose injustice, discrimination, exclusion, lawlessness, inhumane practices, and degrading treatment, and to take action against such issues.
To ensure the protection of human rights, expand the concept of rights within modern norms, and conduct awareness-raising activities for individuals.
To organize media campaigns, lobbying activities, conferences, seminars, and scientific meetings, as well as pursue all legal initiatives, including lawsuits.
To monitor and follow human rights violations on both sides of Cyprus.
To establish contacts at national and international levels, conduct visits, engage in correspondence, and hold meetings.
To prepare reports and conduct research on human rights from legal, social, cultural, intellectual, artistic, environmental, medical, disability, gender, child, and family perspectives, and to organize related cultural and social events.
To monitor decisions by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as well as significant human rights-related rulings by Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot courts.

What we do

Since May 2005, TCHRF has been carrying out human rights-focused activities in various fields. The foundation aims to raise awareness among individuals about human rights and EU law by organizing informational meetings, issuing press statements, preparing reports, developing projects, and producing various publications.

Organizational Structure

The foundation is managed by a Board of Trustees consisting of nine members, including a chairperson.