The association Peri campaigns for women who are affected by abduction and forced marriage. Young, often gay men are also exposed to a world of values in which homosexuality is despised and punished with violence.
«Peri» is Turkish and means «good fairy». Serap Cileli was the first good fairy who founded the association in 2008 due to her own profound life experiences. She was first forced into an engagement with an unloved man at the age of 12. This was followed by a suicide attempt, forced marriage to another man in the Turkish province, divorce and finally fleeing the parental home to escape another forced marriage and death threats from her father.
Every person must have the freedom to choose his or her life plan and life partner – this is the firm conviction of the now 80 members of the association, among them doctors, gynaecologists, educationalists and psychologists. They volunteer nationwide for democracy, human rights and integration. They are convinced that patriarchal thought patterns and related actions stem from convictions that are incompatible with the legal system of the Federal Republic of Germany and human rights.
Through targeted public relations work, the association informs about the situation of people with a migration background and thus promotes their equal rights.
People seeking help are cared for and advised and receive concrete support. Peri e.V. is networked nationally and internationally. Threatened people find refuge with sponsor families.
By providing low-threshold and tailor-made assistances, the association creates the basis for an independent life for many of those affected. By attending school, undergoing training and being able to take up a job, they are put in a position to take responsibility for their own lives.
«It would be naïve to believe that these humiliated women and men, with all their bad experiences, live far away from our own social environment», says founder Serap Çileli. «It is not uncommon for these people to live in the house next door.» She has been threatened repeatedly in response to her work and has been under police protection at times, but she is not discouraged.
Information how to vote here: Award of the Donors
Proposed by: Selda Demirtas
