Sofia Walan has extensive experience in leadership and management, with a strong focus on building high-performing teams and results-driven operations in complex, globally dispersed organisations. Prior to joining Civil Rights Defenders, Sofia held a leadership position at Bris as well as being Chair of Fairtrade Sweden. Previously, she served as Secretary General of the Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation (SweFOR), working to support human rights defenders in Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico. She has also worked on issues related to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank’s role in democracy-building. Sofia leads the day-to-day work at Civil Rights Defenders together with the Senior Management Team.

John is a human rights lawyer with a Master of Laws from Stockholm University. Prior to joining Civil Rights Defenders in March 2013, he previously worked for the Ombudsman Against Ethnic Discrimination and the Equality Ombudsman where he was responsible for investigating cases of discrimination. John also spent time in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the conflict working with human rights. During his four years working with the OSCE mission, John initially focused on creating conditions for the return of displaced persons. Later on, as the Director of the Human Rights Department, he was responsible for the organisation’s work on issues such as war crimes, rule of law, minority rights, economic, and social rights.

Mirjam holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Basel, with a specialisation in Human Resources Management and Leadership. She has over 20 years of experience in HR, organisational development, and recruitment across both the private and non-profit sectors. Before joining Civil Rights Defenders, she held senior HR roles at organisations such as Kvinna till Kvinna, Studiefrämjandet, and East Capital, and worked internationally with UBS in Hong Kong and Zurich.

Gabrielle holds a MA in Political Science and Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and Lund University. Prior to joining Civil Rights Defenders, her last assignments were at CONCORD Sweden and at the World Bank, where she focused on development and human rights issues in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. She has also studied journalism at JMK in Stockholm. She worked extensively as a journalist and together with civil society organisations in South, Southeast and East Asia.

Catrin has studied Media and Communication, Spanish and Gender studies at Södertörn’s University in Stockholm. She joined Civil Rights Defenders in October 2019, working with strategic communication and campaigns. Catrin has extensive experience in communication work within the civil society sector. Before joining Civil Rights Defenders, she worked with press and communication, fundraising, and gender equality issues in other Swedish non-governmental organisations, including two years in Central America with We Effect.

Anna holds a master’s degree in International Economics and Politics from Jönköping International Business School. Before joining Civil Rights Defenders in May 2017, Anna worked with Corporate and Major Donor Relations at SOS Children’s Villages Sweden for nine years. She has also worked for the French export council in Stockholm, Business France.

Erik holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from University of Gothenburg, specialising in democratisation processes. He has extensive experience working with democracy promotion in Latin America as well as the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Prior to joining Civil Rights Defenders in 2014, he worked as a Researcher and Research Director at Swedwatch. Between 2010 and 2013, he worked as a journalist in Brazil.

Mesfin holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Addis Ababa University and an MA in Journalism from Södertörn University. Mesfin was the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of a popular newspaper in Ethiopia. Later, the government accused and sentenced him in a politically motivated trial for “supporting terrorism”. Continuing his journalism and human rights activism in exile, he joined Civil Rights Defenders in 2012. Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders in Sweden awarded him prizes for his contribution to freedom of speech.

Rosanna holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Prior to joining Civil Rights Defenders in 2022, she worked with public information and outreach at the UN, and advocacy at the Human Rights Council with FORUM-ASIA. She has experience working with international organisations in Geneva and with regional organisations in Asia.

Zinaida holds a Master of Laws from Stockholm University. She has over a decade of experience in human rights, security, and protection, with a strong focus on supporting human rights defenders in high-risk environments. Prior to Civil Rights Defenders, she worked with the EU Advisory Group in Armenia, collaborating with the Armenian Parliament on democratic reforms and EU integration processes. In this role, she coordinated high-level dialogues, developed policy recommendations, and contributed to legislative initiatives within the Eastern Partnership framework.

Ivana holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Belgrade. She has over 15 years of experience in human rights, with a focus on minority rights, freedom of expression, and post-conflict reconciliation in the Western Balkans. Prior to joining Civil Rights Defenders, she worked with civil society organisations such as Solidar Suisse and Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities in Serbia, leading efforts to promote democratic values and strengthen capacities of local duty holders.

Maria Pia holds a Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation from Universidad Externado de Colombia, in partnership with Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, and a Bachelor’s in Anthropology from Universidad de Los Andes. She has over 15 years of experience in international development, human rights, and peacebuilding. Before joining Civil Rights Defenders, she worked in both the NGO sector and government institutions, including Colombia’s Presidential Advisory Office for Human Rights. She has led initiatives in conflict-affected areas, building grassroots partnerships and advancing inclusive, participatory approaches to policy and accountability.

John is a human rights lawyer with a Master of Laws from Stockholm University. Prior to joining Civil Rights Defenders in March 2013, he previously worked for the Ombudsman Against Ethnic Discrimination and the Equality Ombudsman where he was responsible for investigating cases of discrimination. John also spent time in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the conflict working with human rights. During his four years working with the OSCE mission, John initially focused on creating conditions for the return of displaced persons. Later on, as the Director of the Human Rights Department, he was responsible for the organisation’s work on issues such as war crimes, rule of law, minority rights, economic, and social rights.