The Team

Jamen Gabriela Hrabanova is a leading Romani human rights activist in Europe, with extensive experience in protection, promotion and advocacy of Roma rights in government and civil society positions on national and European level. She joined ERGO Network in 2011 and has served as director since 2017. For many years, she was working in the civil society sector, engaged either technology consultant for non-profit organizations and as a leader of Roma student association Athinganoi. Later she was employed by the Governmental Office as a Director of the Roma Office for the Council for Roma Minority Affairs in the Czech Republic where she was coordinating strategic and conceptual works related to Roma integration.

As one of the initiators of the Alliance against Antigypsyism and the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD). She is also a coordinator of the EU Roma Policy Coalition, she connects civil society and policy makers on the highest levels, using her expertise in diplomacy, communications and human rights to advance rights for Roma and to empower Roma activists.

Dr. Ebrima Sall is the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, CODESRIA, Africa’s leading social research council that was ranked top think tank of Sub-Saharan Africa in the 2016 Goto-Global Think Tanks Report of the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to becoming the Executive Secretary (April 2009 to June 2017), he was a Senior Programme Officer and Head of Research at CODESRIA for five years (2004-2009). He has also held senior positions in other institutions, including as Managing Director of the Center for the Promotion of Village Savings and Credit Associations (VISACA) in BrikamaBa, The Gambia, which was then under the Gambian Ministry of Agriculture (1992-1994); and Senior Research Fellow and Programme Coordinator at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden (2001-2004). He taught as an adjunct professor at the political science department of Gaston Berger University, in Saint-Louis, Senegal, from 1996 to 2000.

In 1992, he was promoted to the rank of ‘Maitre de Conferences’ (Associate Professor) in ‘sociology-demography’, by the National Commission of Universities of France.

He holds a ‘Maitrise’ (MA) degree in Economic and Social Administration from the University of Grenoble in France, a Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies (DEA) in the Socio-economics of development, and a doctorate in sociology from University of Paris I-Pantheon-Sorbonne.

He was a post-doctoral fellow of Yale University’s Program in Agrarian Studies in 1997-98, and is currently a Senior Research Fellow of the Center for African Studies, Harvard University.

Ebrima is the (co-)author/editor of several publications on higher education, academic freedom, the social sciences, social movements, citizenship, governance, and post-conflict transitions in Africa. He is a citizen of The Gambia

Mrs. Durga Sob, a prominent figure in Nepal, is recognized as the esteemed founder of the Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), Nepal an influential institution dedicated to fostering a just and equitable society by combatting caste and gender discrimination. FEDO stands as a powerful advocate, challenging deep-rooted cultural norms and customs, particularly those that perpetuate oppressive systems and harbor negative perceptions of Dalit women. With an unwavering commitment to the cause, Mrs. Sob has authored numerous scholarly papers and articles published in national and international publications.

Mrs. Sob’s illustrious career includes notable leadership positions within various esteemed organizations. She has served as the former president of the Dalit NGO Federation (DNF), playing a pivotal role in advancing the rights of Dalit individuals. Additionally, Mrs. Sob has made significant contributions as the member secretary of the National Dalit Commission, and showcased her exceptional leadership skills as an executive member of the NGO Federation of Nepal, leaving an indelible mark on the sector. Mrs. Sob’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to creating a fair and inclusive society serve as an inspiration to countless individuals striving for a brighter future in Nepal and beyond.

N. Paul Divakar is a Human Rights advocate specifically working on the issues of the marginalised communities and for almost 4 decades working on Dalit rights. His expertise includes Economic Rights, Access to Justice, Inclusion in Disasters and Humanitarian crisis.

He is the Convenor of the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD). He is also the Global Co-Chair of Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP). GCAP is a network of over 11,000 civil society organisations (CSOs) organized in 58 National Coalitions and in constituency groups of women, youth and socially-excluded people. GCAP supports people in their struggles for justice and brings individuals and organisations together to challenge the institutions and processes that perpetuate poverty and inequalities. He serves as the Chairperson of the Asia Dalit Rights Forum (ADRF), which works in the South Asia region on inclusion and issues around un-touchability and caste-based discrimination.

His work today involves in bringing together similarly discriminated communities on work and descent from the Dalits in Asia to the Haratine in Mauritania to the Quilombolas in Brazil to Roma in Europe. The communities together form the GFOD. He has also been instrumental in pushing for a constituency of communities discriminated on work and descent and this year (2020) has been successful in realising this through a Stakeholder Group of Communities discriminated on Work and Descent which is now a part of the official Stakeholder group at the HLPF at the UN, NY.

He has been one of the key actors in popularising the sustainable development goals and to bring in the aspect of inclusion in the discourse in the new development paradigm and engaging both at the global level throughout the MDG process and now the SDGs. He has been trying to localise the SDGs in bringing in the SDGs to the grassroots and encourage various constituencies specially the marginalised to monitor and push for effective implementation of the goals and targets in country, regionally and globally.

He is one of the founding members of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR). In 2017 he was voted by Outlook magazine as one of the 50 most influential Dalit Leaders in the country. He lead a delegation of over 200 human rights defenders, advocates and professional women, men and youth to the UN World Conference Against Racism in 2001. He has been actively engaging with the communities in strengthening access to justice, gender concerns especially on the intersectionality of Gender and Caste, financial accountability, transparency and participation. His deep interest for the economic empowerment of the Dalits led to initiating several campaigns in India for advocating for equity budgeting from the lens of the marginalised. His other passions involve travelling, reading, movies and exploring the latest technology. But he takes his love for mangoes seriously and can tell you all the names of all the varieties and the time that they are available.

Dr. P. P. Sivapragasam is a human rights advocate and a researcher. Siva studied his basic education in a plantation school, and he qualified his bachelor’s degree in management, postgraduate diploma in human rights and master’s in human rights in Sri Lanka. He also followed his research program in Open University and got his Ph.D. in Italy in Development & Human Rights Studies. Siva is specially trained by the United Nations on the International Human Rights Law and Minority Rights in Geneva.

Siva serves as the Executive Director of the Human Development Organization (HDO) based Sri Lanka since year 2000. He is also General Secretary of Workers’ Solidarity Union, Secretary General of Coalition of Agriculture Workers International (CAWI), Committee Member of ADRF and BoD of IMADR AC.

Basically Siva is from the tea plantation workers background in Sri Lanka. Dr. Sivapragasam  is a development practicenor, social activists and consultant on minority rights, rights of DWD communities, and sustainable development. He is also a researcher, and he published number of books and articles on human rights, social issues and Caste based discrimination of Plantation and minority communities in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Vinayaraj is the Senior Programme Coordinator with TIP-GFoD. He holds a doctorate in International Politics from the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. He has expertise in the field of the development sector for over a decade. He has made significant contributions to programme and project management in the development sector. His journey has been one of dedication and passion, as he has worked to create positive change.

Dr. Vinayaraj’s impressive professional background includes collaborations with renowned organizations such as the Jagori Rural Charitable Trust in Dharamshala, the Centre for Education and Communication, the NASSCOM Foundation, and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute in New Delhi. These experiences have allowed him to cultivate a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in managing successful multi-partner projects in diverse environments.

Not only has he excelled in his managerial roles, but he has also shared his knowledge and expertise through consultancy and collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Delhi. In addition, he has dedicated time to teaching Political Science at Christ College in Irinjalakuda, Kerala, showcasing his commitment to both practical application and academic pursuits.

His intellectual prowess extends beyond his professional accomplishments. He has played an integral role in the research and publication of books, research articles, essays, and reports, and has published book reviews in national and international journals. Some of his contributions have been quoted by the academic community and fostered meaningful dialogue in his field of expertise.

He participated in the Group Relations Conference (GRC) 2023 organized by Group Relations India (GRI) Mumbai in 2023. He served as one of the core Faculties on Identity and Social Practice for the Master class for the Urban Fellows at India Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS), Bangalore, 2022-23. He has travelled nationally and internationally and attended the United Nations High Level Political Forum (UN HLPF) in New York as a delegate of Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (MGoS) in 2022. He also represented the Social Justice Task Force (SJTF) of The Inclusivity Project (TIP) at the Asia Regional Assembly organized by Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) Asia in Bangkok in 2022.

Dr. Vinayaraj’s impressive track record, coupled with his unwavering dedication, make him a true force to be reckoned with in the development sector. His ability to envision and implement innovative solutions has the power to transform lives and uplift communities.

Naveen Gautam is presently working as Senior Legal Researcher with Global Forum for Communities discriminated on Work and Descent. He is a social legal researcher and has been working as a Dalit-Adivasi Rights activist and  Social Justice lawyer since past 7 years as he is committed  towards advancing the rights of Dalits and Adivasis as well as Constitutional literacy.

With an indomitable spirit and a deep understanding of the socio-legal landscape, Naveen Gautam embarked on a journey to fight for the rights of Dalits and Adivasis across India. Armed with a law degree from a prestigious institution namely  Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow, he set out to challenge the deep-rooted biases and prejudices that perpetuated their marginalization. He further went on to do Post Graduation in International Human Rights Law from National Law School of India University, Bangalore.

As a human rights lawyer, Naveen Gautam has relentlessly worked to dismantle discriminatory practices and policies that deny Dalits and Adivasis their basic rights and opportunities. Through his expertise in constitutional law and his unwavering determination, Naveen Gautam also got a chance to work with esteemed organisation like Human Rights Law Network, Centre for Social Justice, National Dalit Movement for Justice (access to Justice wing of National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights) . He has been working as a legal advisor on pro bono basis with EKA-The Collective and few other organisation working at the grass roots across the country.

Beyond the courtroom, Naveen Gautam has been actively involved in grassroots movements, community organizing, and policy advocacy. Recognizing the power of collective action, he has played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the challenges faced by Dalits and Adivasis, fostering dialogue between communities, and mobilizing support for transformative social change, especially Youth. Along with Civil and Political Rights of Dalits and Adivasi, Naveen Gautam also holds experience of being trainer on the issues of  Child rights ,Gender, rights of minorities as well as rights of Nomadic and DE notified tribes. Parallely he has been extensively working on SDGs.  He has also been a guest faculty in colleges and has taken up courses in form of workshop on Human Rights Law.

Hailing from Lucknow with his ancestral house in a small village of Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh , Naveen Gautam witnessed first hand the systemic discrimination and social injustice faced by marginalized communities especially Dalits. This personal experience ignited his passion to bring about meaningful change and to empower those who have long been silenced and oppressed.

Shallini is an accomplished accounts professional with a track record of successful evolution spanning over 7 years. She has done her masters in commerce and has done certification in Tally ERP & Financial Modelling.

She has worked with different sectors like manufacturing, consulting & development. She has extensive experience in financial planning, budgeting, statutory audit, compliance and donor reporting. She has previously worked Wonder Alu Board Overseas, Thinkthrough Consulting Pvt. Ltd. & STiR Education. Currently, she is working as an Accounts & Admin officer with The Inclusivity Project. She is infused with exemplary work ethics consisting of a goal-driven mentality and team-oriented approach to attain goals. She has been appreciated for high level of efficiency, learning attitude with interpersonal skills and naturally engaging personality. Additionally, she is knowledgeable in MIS reporting and various financial software applications (Tally, SAP B1 etc). Her motivations include learning new things and the challenge of meeting key objectives.

Alioune Mzeirigue is a human rights activist, anti-slavery advocate, and humanitarian relief and community development professional.

He carries more than eight years of experience with various international organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR-Mauritania). Furthermore, Alioune has expertise in international development and peacebuilding processes (Triple Nexus).

He currently works as a Rights Expert with the Global Forum for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent, and as a United Nations Liaison Officer at The Inclusivity Project in New York City. Additionally, Alioune has been advocating for the Haratin community and has been involved with many anti-slavery movements in his native Mauritania. He also dedicates his time as a child protection advisor at the Arab Union Childhood Protection NGO.

Aloysius Irudayam S. J. Holding Master’s Degree in Philosophy and Political Science, he is an experienced grassroots activist and a trainer on social issues. He has co-authored several advocacy publications which have been used for national and international advocacy and lobbying purposes: Black Paper – Promises Broken and Dalits Betrayed (1998), Adivasis Speak Out: Atrocities against Adivasis in Tamil Nadu (2004), Dalits in the World of Globalization (2004), Dalit Women’s Right to Political Participation in Rural Panchayati Raj (2009), Dalit Women Speak Out: Caste, Class and Gender Violence in India (2011).

His commitment to Dalit Rights has led him to, among other forums, UN Treaty Body meetings in Geneva (2001 & 2007), UN World Social Forums in India (2004) and Brazil (2005), etc. Keenly interested in the promotion of human rights culture, he has co-authored human rights education textbooks for school students. Having held several important administrative positions, he is at present the Program Director of the Research, Advocacy and Human Rights Education Unit in IDEAS, Madurai, India. He is currently also the Advisor to GFoD.

Beena J Pallical is a Dalit women Leader and currently General Secretary of the Economic and Educational rights wing within National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR). Over the last eleven years she is with the NCDHR working on the Dalit Economic Rights. She has been passionately working towards policy changes within Central and State governments towards the marginalised communities (Dalits & Tribals ) and been demanding that Dalit Women be included in policy formulation.

Her main focus continues to be on Economic Justice and specifically looking at Gender Equity. She has led many campaigns and trained several Dalit & Adivasi Women and men on Budget rights. She also works around targeted budgets, fiscal accountability and governance. Her focus the last 5 years has been on how to enable youth to access their right to education, ensuring that the budgets allocated for them is effectively implemented. She also heads the Asia Dalit Women’s Economic Empowerment Program that works on empowering Dalit women in South Asia (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and India which is part of the Asia Dalit Rights Forum.

She is an expert on Gender issues and looks at the intersectionality of Economic Rights and gender and has written several articles on the importance of looking at governance through the lens of Gender rights particularly Dalit women’s rights. A large part of her work is focused on the UN mechanisms and has worked closely with both OHCHR at Geneva and the HLPF at NY. She has been involved in the sustainable development goals since 2015 and the inclusion of voices of the marginalised and taken this agenda to the High level political forum in NY. She has also been looking at how finances can be better managed to ensure that the SDGs can be achieved specifically from the perspective of the marginalised. She has worked with all the various mechanisms and has represented the Dalit Women’s rights at the UN platforms. She has contributed to the overall work of Dalit Rights in NCDHR and participated in several national and international seminars raising the voice of Dalits and Adivasis and advocating stronger policy measures with effective implementation. She has trained many young women and men in budgets and fiscal accountability. Her other passions include travelling, trying various cuisines, learning different languages and thinks that if she weren’t a Human Rights Activist she would have been a dancer!

Simona Torotcoi is a Roma activist from Romania, currently a Roma right expert for the European Roma Grassroots Organization Network. Having previously completed a PhD in Public Policy from the Central European University, and having worked for UNICEF, Simona has a particular interest in education policies for Roma minorities and other disadvantaged groups. She is a founding member of Young Roma Maramures Association in Romania, a youth organization focused on the development of Roma communities. Since 2010 she has been involved in the activities of initiatives of Change, Phiren Amenca, OSCE CPRSI, Roma Education fund, and she has researched issues such as antigypsyism and access to education, employment, civic and political participation.

Pranjali is a Researcher, with demonstrated experience in the development sector and media & publishing. Her work encompasses the intricate intersections of caste and gender, Buddhism, and public policy. She holds a MPhil degree in Modern South Asian Studies from the University of Cambridge, which was supported by the prestigious Commonwealth Masters Scholarship. Her MPhil research focused on Dr. Ambedkar’s engagement with Buddhism. She believes in combining her academic skills and activism to advance the collective pursuit of social justice. Pranjali is also an author with published articles and poetry addressing critical social issues. During her leisure time, she enjoys watching science fiction, writing children’s short stories, and occasionally, even sappy poetry.