We are Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights

Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights is a charitable organization supporting survivors of human rights violations, defending fundamental freedoms, and promoting democratic values throughout the world. Our programs provide mental health, medical treatment and other support services to survivors of trauma, terror, domestic violence and human rights violations.

Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights US supports 9 treatment centers, a clinic for Yazidi women and families, a Healing Garden and mobile teams helping survivors in 11 refugee and IDP camps and nine regions throughout Kurdistan-Iraq, Iraq, & Syria. Since 2005 these programs have supported over 100,000 survivors of trauma, terror, domestic violence and human rights violations in the region.

Where we work

We work in major cities and some of the hardest to reach places throughout Kurdistan-Iraq, Iraq, and Syria providing life-saving mental health and medical support to survivors of human rights violations. Our mobile teams are often the only source of treatment for refugees and internally displaced persons living in camps and rural villages through the region.

It's about values

Our work follows the core values set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We believe in human dignity and promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the declaration. We help survivors of human rights violations, regardless of their age, gender, ethnic or religious affiliation.

Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights seeks a democratic society that protects the dignity of the human being, where adults and children realize their rights to life and liberty, and citizens are free from torture and terror.

Meet our founder, Salah Ahmad

Salah Ahmad is a child and family therapist trained in Germany. During his many years at the Zentrum ÜBERLEBEN in Berlin, he treated hundreds of traumatized refugees from dozens of countries.

Salah Ahmad, who himself experienced flight and exile, has always been committed to human rights, minority interests, the prevention of violence, and improved access to psychological assistance for victims of violence in Iraq.

Following the fall of the Saddam regime, Mr. Ahmad returned to his native Iraq, where he opened the first treatment center for survivors of torture and war violence. During the following years, he used his many years of experience to establish the concept of psychotherapy and trauma treatment in Iraq.

Mr. Ahmad regularly commutes between Germany and Iraq. The success and reputation of the Jiyan Foundation enables it to influence policymakers, which in turn has a positive impact on patients’ lives.

Our Programs