The "Society for Threatened Peoples"

Not Turning a Blind Eye

Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker (GfbV) / Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) is an international human rights organisation which campaigns with and on behalf of threatened and persecuted ethnic and religious minorities, nationalities and indigenous peoples. We stand side by side with the victims of crimes against humanity, identifying the individual perpetrators of such crimes and their accomplices by name. And we have no hesitation in speaking out when victims become perpetrators. Because the principle that inspires all our activities is expressed in the slogan "Not Turning a Blind Eye”.

A Voice for the Victim

Our ideologically and party-politically impartial human rights work on behalf of the Tibetans, Moluccans, Adivasi, Kurds, Yezidi, Assyrian-Chaldaean Christians, Baha’i, Southern and Western Sudanese, Sahraouis, Acehans, Yanomami, Navajo, Aborigines, Chechens, Itelmen, Bosnians, Sorbs, Sinti and Roma and many other ethnic groups on every continent experiencing the threat of persecution has been formally recognised by the United Nations. GfbV/STP’s consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the U.N. enables us to address U.N. agencies directly and to act as mouthpiece for various minorities. GfbV/STP also has participatory status with the Council of Europe.

History and Organisational Structure

GfbV/STP has its origins in "Aktion Biafra-Hilfe”, a grassroots initiative opposing genocide in Biafra (part of modern-day Nigeria) that was founded in Hamburg in 1968 by Tilman Zülch and Klaus Guercke. That organisation became GfbV/STP in 1970. GfbV/STP’s main office in Germany is located in Göttingen. We have other national sections in Austria, Switzerland, Southern Tyrol / Italy, Luxembourg, Bosnia-Herzegowina and Chile as well as representatives in London and New York. GfbV/STP is currently in the process of setting up an office in Iraqi Kurdistan. All these various sections and offices are members of GfbV/STP International, which has its headquarters in Luxembourg.

Become a Member or Supporter

GfbV is a recognised non-profit organisation. Donations, membership subscriptions and charitable grants all qualify for exemption from tax (the account number and sort code for donations is: Sparkasse Göttingen, Kto. 1909, BLZ 260 500 01). If you want to know more about making a bequest to GfbV/STP in your will (legacies) we would be pleased to provide the necessary information.

Get Involved

Take part in our postcard, letter and e-mail campaigns, events and demonstrations or become a member of one of our regional groups. These groups organise talks, film shows and book displays in addition to working with refugees belonging to ethnic and religious minority communities.

Tell Other People about Us

Pass on our materials to your friends, relatives, neighbours and work colleagues. Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter or our magazine pogrom-bedrohte Völker, and get other people to subscribe too.

GfbV/STP also criticises powerful business interests whose activities may for example pose a threat to the survival of indigenous communities living in remote areas as well as religious organisations and aid agencies whose work may impact adversely on minority groups..

You can order sample copies of our human rights magazine pogrom-bedrohte Völker as well as all the other materials published by

GfbV/STP free of charge by

e-mail verwaltung@gfbv.de

We Depend on Your Support!

Our human rights work for minorities is funded almost entirely from the subscriptions and donations of members and supporters. This allows us to remain independent of governments, political parties and business interests. We aim not to be dependent on any institution in order to ensure that we never find ourselves having to consider the consequences that taking action might have for our organisation. In our type of work discreet diplomacy behind the scenes is almost never appropriate - delays and negotiations can put lives at risk. This means that we have to be sure that we have the necessary funds available before we start to plan our campaigns. Even a small-scale initiative like a postcard campaign costs money.

And that is why we are asking you to support our human rights work for minorities by making a regular donation.