Europe Offices

Our headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium, and we are represented in Geneva, Switzerland. In both parts of Europe, we focus our advocacy work on international law, and on creating spaces for multisectoral, intergenerational and multidisciplinary dialogue for respect for human rights.

We focus our advocacy work on international law, and on creating spaces for multisectoral, intergenerational and multidisciplinary dialogue for respect for human rights.

We create alliances between civil society, the public and private sector (national and international), academia, foundations and related institutions.

We promote multisectoral, intergenerational and multidisciplinary dialogue for respect for human rights.

Our areas of work and experience focus on advocacy in international law before the mechanisms of United Nations and the institutions of the European Union.

We produce and disseminate knowledge on social cohesion (Network of networks), protection of Defenders of human rights, upbringing in an emergency and humanitarian assistance with a focus on people in situations of forced mobility, sharing tools, evidence and examples of good practices that can be replicated in the different countries where we work.

Europe Team

Marta Castillo

Program Coordinator
Emergency Education

Contact

Europe Office
Bureau Mundo-B, Rue d'Edinburgh, 26, 1050.
Brussels, Belgique.
+32 2 893 09 80
info@ridheuropa.org

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Anna Serra

Oficial de Derechos Humanos

Graduada en Trabajo Social y máster en Estudios Internacionales: Organizaciones y Cooperación Internacional. He colaborado en proyectos humanitarios en Turquía tras los terremotos de 2022. Con experiencia en intervención social con infancia y juventud en situación de vulnerabilidad y exclusión social.

Comprometida con los derechos humanos, género, migración y la cooperación internacional. 

Con experiencia en investigación sobre el derecho a la educación en movilidad forzada, convencida de que la igualdad de oportunidades en el acceso a la educación es fundamental para construir un mundo más justo e igualitario.

Mayra Ossandon

Program Assistant

She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Politics and Government from Sciences Po Paris, specializing in migration policies within the framework of the master's degree in European Affairs.

With her experience working with migrant women and families and her certification in Gender and Equality, she seeks to specifically help people in situations of forced mobility. His specialization in Latin America and his knowledge of the European system allow him to collaborate with the RIDHE in its transnational missions.

María José Ferrel

Communication Consultant

Journalist with more than ten years of experience in strategic communication, human rights, international advocacy and research. He has worked in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACH/OAS) and the Office of the Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (RELE/OAS) and various third sector organizations and regional networks. Specialist in documentation and monitoring, multilingual campaigns, press management and support for projects focused on vulnerable populations (Women and Girls, Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples, LGBTQI+ Community, Elderly and Disabled People).

His work has a decolonial and collaborative approach, with skills in planning, content production and facilitation of collective processes. It combines the rigor of political analysis with the sensitivity of community work. Its commitment focuses on the defense of fundamental freedoms and democracy, territory and collective rights from a plural and transformative perspective.

Ana Bellver

Psychosocial Care

Expert in international cooperation for development. Responsible for monitoring and fulfilling the objectives and mission of RIDHE's institutional planning, with a history of more than 20 years of commitment to the observance of human rights, she was part of the international organization for migration (IOM) in Colombia and Central America.

With experience in research on Human Rights and gender-based violence. Focusing particularly on field investigations and interviews with victims and witnesses to highlight their stories. She has worked as a Volunteer in social initiatives, promoting child development and supporting the elderly. Bilingual (Spanish and English) and with skills in research and human resources. Passionate about psychology and social impact.

Elektra Lagos

Director

Expert in international cooperation for development. Responsible for monitoring and fulfilling the objectives and mission of RIDHE's institutional planning, with a history of more than 20 years of commitment to the observance of human rights, she was part of the international organization for migration (IOM) in Colombia and Central America.

She is currently responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing comprehensive support strategies in cases of serious human rights violations and atrocious crimes, where her experience in international law and psychology come together. She is completing her certification as a Design Thinking facilitator and has extensive experience leading large, multilocal teams with ambitious objectives in highly complex and challenging situations.

At the RIDHE, he leads projects for social transformation, humanitarian emergency response and defense of the rights of defenders in Latin America with a view anchored in dignity.

Iona Bel

EU Program Coordinator - Lat

Specialist in humanitarian development and risk management with more than three years of experience in disaster management and social protection in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Europe.

With a solid track record in advocacy, research, project management and interdisciplinary collaboration, she seeks to design innovative solutions that support populations affected by crises through inclusive, participatory and localized approaches. His work combines technical rigor and social sensitivity, aimed at strengthening community resilience and promoting effective policies in vulnerable contexts.

Project and Finance Coordinator

Experience working for financial control and control. Licensed specialist in Management Control.

Desde RIDHE, colabora en la planificación presupuestaria, fiscalización y ejecución financiera, velando por el uso eficiente y transparente de los recursos.

Paula Garcia

European Parliament Advocacy Officer

Professional experience in the promotion and defense of human rights, with a focus on equality and gender. She has a degree in international relations, a master's degree in political science from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium and was an Erasmus fellow in European studies at the University of Applied Sciences in The Hague, the Netherlands.

He has worked as an assistant in the European Parliament. In addition, it has contributed to the promotion of civil rights by defending gender equality and the rights of migrants, LGBTQ+ people and indigenous peoples. From the RIDHE, it seeks to support the implementation of the advocacy strategy at the program and project level.

Vany Cortez

Advocacy Officer

Experience in issues of gender equality, forced displacement and the right to education. Trained in law, she has two master's degrees in public international law from the University of Toulouse, France, with one specializing in international organizations and the other in human rights, security and development. In addition, she recently obtained certification in immigration and asylum law.

From the RIDHE, it has the mission of coordinating international advocacy before the United Nations for the protection, defense and promotion of rights and thus continue to support rights defenders in the region.

Winnye Bernard

Director of Projects and Advocacy at the United Nations

Specialist in international cooperation with extensive experience in coordinating organizations in Latin America, in social issues and the defense of rights with a main focus on indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. She has a degree in diplomacy and international relations with a specialty in policies and practices for development. He has a postgraduate degree in project formulation and evaluation and a diploma in management of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

From the RIDHE, he contributed to the development and execution of the emergency education program and then went on to contribute to programs and projects. He has focused his career on systematization and international advocacy (ASI) before the United Nations to give visibility to the multiple human rights violations in the region. With a vocation for service, he has been defending and protecting rights for more than 10 years, he has also carried out consultancy on socio-environmental issues.