May 17, 2015

Dear Sir / Madam

NGO Monitor (www.ngo-monitor.org) is a Jerusalem-based research institute, promoting critical debate and accountability regarding the political activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are active in the Arab-Israel conflict.

From the 4 until the 14th of June 2015, The Kukturhaus Helferei,Zurich, will be holding an event with the Political Advocacy NGO “Breaking the Silence.” According to the brochure for the event, Eidgenössisches Departement für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA) is listed as a sponsor of this event.

Is the EDA sponsorship of this event financial?

(a) If yes, how much was allocated for the event?

(b) What was the procedure for deciding to allocate funding for this event?

(c) Is this information publicly available? If so, how can it be retrieved?

We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Shaun Sacks

Europe Desk, NGO Monitor

 

May 18, 2015

Dear Mr. Sacks

Thanks for your questions – my answers you find below in blue.

Leiter Kommunikation

Stadt Zürich
Stab Finanzdepartement
Betreff: Finanzdepartement der Stadt Zürich  sponsorship  of Breaking the Silence

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Mitteilung [Notification]:

NGO Monitor (www.ngo-monitor.org) is a Jerusalem-based research institute, promoting critical debate and accountability regarding the political activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are active in the Arab-Israel conflict.

From June the 4 until the 14, The Kukturhaus Helferei,Zurich, will be holding an event with the Political Advocacy NGO “Breaking the Silence.” According to the brochure for the event, Finanzdepartement der Stadt Zürich is listed as a sponsor of this event.

Is the Finanzdepartement sponsorship of this event financial?

(a) If yes, how much was allocated for the event?

Yes, CHF 10,000 (one-time payment). The contribution shall be used exclusively for the supported project.

(b) What was the procedure for deciding to allocate funding for this event?

The exhibition “Breaking the Silence” informes, questiones common opinions and makes a contribution to the dialogue. The exhibition “Breaking the Silence” is a cultural event, which is open to a large audience in the city of Zurich. For these reasons, the Department of Finance of the City of Zurich has decided to give a contribution from the below mentioned contribution fund fort the exhibition.

With the contribution fund of the Department of Finance we have the possibility to support charitable, cultural and other purposes in the public interest or in the interest of the City of Zurich. (STRB no. 1585/2011 – https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/portal/de/index/politik_u_recht/stadtrat/geschaefte-des-stadtrates/stadtratsbeschluesse/2011/Dez/StZH_StRB_2011_1585.html).

(c) Is this information publicly available? If so, how can it be retrieved?

The rules concerning the mentioned contribution fund is public (see link answer b).

The financial support from the Finanzdepartement and the reasons why we decided to support the exhibition I mentionend in the answers a and b.

We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Shaun Sacks