Since we have introduced most of the staff and council members in our Estonian newsletters, it seems only fair to give a short introduction of us in English as well.
Staff members:
Kari Käsper is the director as well as one of the founders of EHRC. He has been involved with Tallinn Law School at Tallinn University of Technology (formerly the Law School of Concordia International University Estonia) since the year 2000, first as a student, later as a teaching assistant and as a lecturer. He graduated from Master of Arts in Law programme at TUT in 2012. At TUT, Kari manages the equal treatment project, one part of which is the campaign “Diversity Enriches”, which aims to increase levels of tolerance in Estonia.
Marianne Meiorg is the head of the equal treatment program as well as one of the founders of EHRC. Marianne completed her Master’s Programme on International Human Rights Law in the University of Nottingham in 2006, she has also studied European Human Rights in the University of Essex. She is also employed as a lecturer of international and European Protection of Human Rights at TUT. Marianne is the non-discrimination expert of the equal treatment project implemented by TUT.
Kristi Toodo is the head of the refugee program in EHRC as well as the manager of a project establishing a legal clinic for providing legal help to asylum seekers. Kristi has participated in several European Union and Council of Europe expert groups on the issue of refugees since 2006. She has also compiled numerous research papers for European Commission. She has been a project manager in many projects on refugees.
Merle Albrant is the equal treatment expert and consultant in EHRC. Merle is a lawyer at the Järva Women’s Shelter and a consultant to the Estonian Women’s Round Table. She graduated the Masters Programme in Law at the Tallinn University of Technology. She has a lot of experience in dealing with cases which include violence against women.
Egert Rünne is EHRC’s office manager as well as the manager of the awareness raising project on forced migration. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and a Master’s Degree in Political Science and Governance from Tallinn University. He also works with the refugee legal clinic for the third year. He is the research specialist of the equal treatment project implemented by TUT.
Kristin Rammus is EHRC’s communication specialist as well as the communication manager of the awareness raising project on forced migration. She has a Master’s Degree in Communication from Tallinn University. Her previous experience involve project management and communication in the field of youth work. She is also the communication and events manager of the equal treatment project and the campaign “Diversity Enriches” which is implemented by TUT.
Anni Säär is the junior legal advisor in the refugee law clinic. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Law in TUT. Her career at the EHRC started as an intern in the refugee legal aid clinic in the pilot year and after that she started working part-time as a junior legal advisor. Her work includes knowing the content of each case, gathering the necessary information and also advising the new interns of the clinic.
Anne Veerpalu is the senior legal advisor in the refugee law clinic. She has graduated the University of Tartu Faculty of Law (BA), University of Helsinki Faculty of Law (LL.M) and Estonian Business School (MBA). She has extensive knowledge and experience in business law, corporate law, employment law, corporate governance, contract law etc. She was also one of the founders of the first refugee legal aid clinic in the year 2000.
Kelly Grossthal was the manager of the youth involvement project “Look, Participate, Make a Difference!”. She has been involved with the EHRC since it was still part of the International University Audentes which is why she has seen the centre grow and become more influential. She was also an intern in the refugee legal aid clinic and is the trainings consultant for companies in the equal treatment project implemented by TUT.
Members of the council:
Evhen Tsybulenko was the head of the council of EHRC in 2010-2012 and he is the director the human rights centre at TUT. He graduated from Kiev National University (Ph.D. in International Law 2000). He has conducted postdoctoral research at the International Human Rights Law Institute of De Paul University in Chicago (2002), and has worked at the International Committee of the Red Cross and in Kyiv International University. He sees EHCR as a young, yet well known, institution in Estonia which is currently dealing with important issues. Meanwhile he sees that human rights are more broader and he believes that in the future EHRC will help in other areas as well. He sees the general sitation of human rights in Estonia average comparing to other EU countries – he doesn’t see any serious violations of basic human rights and he sees the situation improving.
Tanel Kerikmäe is a well-known international lawyer and scholar in the region, he is also one of the first members of the council of EHRC. He completed his Master’s and Licensiate studies in Helsinki University. He has studied among a few other universities in Cambridge, Oxford, Turku, Edinburgh and Florence. He has Ph.D. from Tallinn University. He sees EHRC as a growing organisation as well – he hopes that EHRC will remain an independent organisation that will deal with different human right topics.
Iivi-Anna Masso is also one of the first members of the council of EHRC. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Sciences received from the University of Helsinki in 2006, a M.Phil. in Political Science obtained at the Central European University in 2002 and a M.A. in Philosophy received from the University of Helsinki in 1997. She sees EHRC as a human rights watchdog as well as protector of equal treatment. Ideally she would see EHRC grow in the direction where it would have enough recource to get involved internationally. In general she sees many areas which can improve in Estonia – for example social rights, workers rights, equal treatment, tolerance in general etc.
Katrin-Nyman Metcalf is a member of EHRC’s council since 2011. She holds a PH.D. in International Law received from the University of Uppsala in 1997. She is currently the Head of Chair of Law and Technology and a professor at Tallinn Univesrity of Technology. She has worked in different universities, as well as the Swedish Government, Independent Media Commission/Communications Regulatory Agency in Sarajevo etc. She sees that EHRC is dealing with very important issues, such as sexual minorities, disabled people, refugees, racism in societ. She notes that it is important to raise public awareness on these topics.
Jevgeni Krištafovitš is also a member of EHRC’s council since 2011. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Law in the University of Tartu. He has been involved with the Estonian Human Rights Institute and the youth organisation Open Republic.
Tanel Mätlik is a member of EHRC’s council since 2011. He has a Master’s Degree in Political Philosophy from the University of Tartu and he has continued his education in the Oxford University. Tanel has worked in several positions in the public as well as in the private sector, including as a lecturer in the University of Tartu, as an advisor of the Minister of Population, as a director of the Integration and Migration Foundation etc.
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