Background:
In early 1993, a number of Iranians in New York started a program to assist Iranian refugees
in Turkey,
who were facing dire economic and safety situations. The group started its
activities by finding sponsors and providing regular financial support for 10
refugee families. By the end of 1993, these activities expanded in substance
and in the number of refugees assisted. The financial support project was
assisting several more refugees. Other efforts included legal help, regular
reporting of the precarious situations of Iranian refugees in different parts
of the world and establishing contacts with human rights organizations. In
1994, Iranian Refugees' Alliance
was established to continue these efforts more effectively. IRA was
incorporated as a non-profit organization in January 1995.
Principles
and Aims:
Iranian Refugees' Alliance
is a community based organization in the US with the mission to preserve
and promote the human and civil rights of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers
nationally and internationally, without any discriminiation. Our efforts are
entirely funded by donations from the public, rely on volunteer labor and
fall under five categories:
- monitoring, documenting, and reporting world
wide situation of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers, especially where
they are most under-served and their rights are abused.
- defending and promoting the rights of Iranian
asylum seekers nationally and internationally.
- empowering asylum seekers in obtaining refugee
status by providing information on asylum matters and their legal
rights, affidavits, documentation, and referrals, translation, and
educational outreach.
- preventing forceful return of Iranian refugees
as prohibited by international law and assisting their resettlement in
safe countries, if necessary.
- supporting newly arrived Iranian refugees in
the US
who face discrimination and/or disfranchisement, through advocacy,
providing information and referrals, translation, and educational
outreach.
Board
of Directors:
Iranian Refugees' Alliance's Board of Directors is the
governing body with the ultimate authority for the actions of the corporation,
including fiscal management and budget approval, and establishing long and
short-term agendas. Members of the Board are also actively involved in
implementing the organization's projects and services.
Year-end
Financial
Reports:
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