LEADING GERMAN HUMAN RIGHTS NGO SEEKING USG

C O N F I D E N T I A L FRANKFURT 000782 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017 TAGS: PHUM KIRF PREL GM IR KN CU CH SUBJECT: LEADING GERMAN HUMAN RIGHTS NGO SEEKING USG PARTNERSHIP Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Daniel Froats for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action cable (action request in paragraph 9). ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Conservative German human rights NGO "International Society for Human Rights" (IGFM/ISHR) would like to partner informally with the USG and U.S. organizations on Iran, North Korea, and persecuted Christians. The organization already works with the USG on occasion concerning Cuban issues. IGFM/ISHR's long-standing work on totalitarian/authoritarian regimes mark it as a potentially good partner. END SUMMARY. Background -------------- ¶3. (U) Founded in 1972 in Frankfurt, IGFM/ISHR represents one of Germany's leading human-rights organizations and arguably its leading "homegrown" human-rights NGO, with board members such as Chinese dissident Harry Wu and Russian activist Yelena Bonner (widow of Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov). IGFM/ISHR is a Germany-based worldwide NGO -- claiming forty chapters and 300,000 members -- but is considerably smaller (ten full-time headquarters employees) than, for instance, Amnesty International. Like Amnesty, IGFM/ISHR's work centers on letter-writing campaigns and financial support to political prisoners and their families, advocacy work, and public information campaigns. Its national chapters have considerable independence. ¶4. (C) IGFM/ISHR is a membership-based organization like Amnesty but confines its work to totalitarian/authoritarian regimes (tending not to address broader social issues such as the death penalty). IGFM/ISHR's issues reflect the values of its largely conservative, church-going membership and the organization's early period as part of the "Helsinki" process exposing human rights violations in the former Warsaw Pact. The group has pressured the German government on various issues including Cuba and China, but has close working ties with German diplomatic missions in those countries. The group's conservative leanings make it sometimes controversial in the human-rights community. ¶5. (SBU) One of the group's long-standing issues is human rights abuses in Cuba (active there since 1977). Post made contact with IGFM/ISHR on its 2006 annual conference in Kronberg (outside Frankfurt),focusing on Cuban dissidents (many of whom attended from the U.S. and elsewhere). Department supported the conference through participation by the Office of the Cuba Transition Coordinator. (NOTE: The event was the highest-profile Cuban democracy/human rights event in Europe last year). In November 2006, IGFM/ISHR and others submitted a "1503" petition on Cuba to the U.N. Human Rights Council. Seeking USG Partnership -------------- ¶6. (C) At IGFM/ISHR's request, Pol-Econ chief met January 31 with Martin Lessenthin, managing director ("Speaker of the Board) of the organization. Lessenthin raised several areas for informal cooperation: CHINA -- On March 30, IGFM/ISHR will host a high-profile conference on human rights in China; Harry Wu & other prominent Chinese dissidents and Falun Gong adherents are scheduled to attend. (Post plans to observe part or all of the conference, to take place in the Frankfurt area). IRAN -- the organization would like to focus its next UNHRC/1503 petition on human rights violations in Iran. IGFM/ISHR hopes to submit the petition later this year, and would welcome USG information and references to foundations and other human-rights NGO's active in the area. NORTH KOREA -- IGFM/ISHR would like to raise international attention to human rights abuses in North Korea/DPRK, a country viewed too often only through the lens of foreign policy or humanitarian needs. Here as well, IGFM/ISHR would benefit from ties to U.S. public and private actors. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM -- IGFM/ISHR is active on the issue of religious freedom (particularly the persecution of minority Christians) in China and the Arab world. Recognizing the USG's focus on the issue, the group would welcome a dialogue with U.S. experts. ¶7. (SBU) IGFM/ISHR representatives travel to the U.S. for meetings and would welcome Amcit interns at the group's headquarters in Frankfurt. Lessenthin, who travels to Washington (and to Florida as part of the group's Cuba activities) would welcome a "voluntary visitor" or other USG program which could cover part of travel costs (the group can combine Washington meetings with outreach to regional human rights groups in places like New Jersey/New York and Florida). COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶8. (C) Overall, IGFM/ISHR is sympathetic to USG policy based on its Cold War experience and membership base. Judging from its long-standing Cuba activities -- where the group is providing "on the ground" assistance to human-rights activists and is trying to educate the European public -- IGFM/ISHR can be a tenacious and effective agent in other authoritarian/ totalitarian settings. The group takes no money from the German government, but appears very open to cooperation and information exchange. ¶9. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests guidance and/or appropriate POC's to assist IGFM representatives in work on human rights issues affecting Iran, North Korea, and religious freedom. ¶10. (U) This message was coordinated with Embassy Berlin. POWELL