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FEATURED SPEAKERS
Ainura Bekkoenova
Policy Specialist on Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights, Regional Bureau for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub.
Ainura focuses on policy research, advocacy and programming to advance rule of law, justice, security and human rights in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Ainura provides policy advisory services to UNDP offices in the region and also facilitates regional multi-stakeholder partnerships. She has over 10 years of professional experience with UNDP and UNODC in promoting rule of law, strengthening justice systems, security and human rights protection in various regions - Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Eastern Africa – very often in politically complex and fragile settings. Some of her recent blogs feature impact of COVID-19 on human rights and rule of law in the ECIS region, right to privacy and nexus between artificial intelligence and human rights.
Ainura focuses on policy research, advocacy and programming to advance rule of law, justice, security and human rights in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Ainura provides policy advisory services to UNDP offices in the region and also facilitates regional multi-stakeholder partnerships. She has over 10 years of professional experience with UNDP and UNODC in promoting rule of law, strengthening justice systems, security and human rights protection in various regions - Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Eastern Africa – very often in politically complex and fragile settings. Some of her recent blogs feature impact of COVID-19 on human rights and rule of law in the ECIS region, right to privacy and nexus between artificial intelligence and human rights.
Robert Bernardo
Robert Bernardo is Team Leader for the Governance and Peacebuilding Team, and concurrently Policy Specialist for Capacity Development and Institutional Strengthening at the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub. He has over 25 years of experience in the Asia Pacific and Europe and CIS regions working in public sector transformation, digitalization and public policy, governance, change management, institutional development and learning, sustainable development, e-governance and innovative public services delivery, and sustainable natural resources management. He supports strategic planning and country programme development processes for UNDP, other UN agencies, and have worked in over 40 countries with governments, civil society organizations, and international development agencies in introducing institutional development strategies and sector strategies, approaches and tools, including through introduction of participatory processes, results-oriented management and monitoring systems, and civil service development.
Siniša Milatović
Siniša Milatović is an expert on business and human rights, and is currently serving as a Business and Human Rights Specialist with UNDP. He is responsible for developing global programming and providing expertise on business and human rights to colleagues and partners in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Before joining UNDP, Siniša had over 20 years’ experience as a human rights lawyer, advocate, researcher and manager of donor-funded projects. He has held management and consulting positions for UNDP, OSCE, as well as other UN agencies and civil society organisations, in over 25 countries and territories in Asia, Africa and Europe. He has written legislation governing discrimination and the provision of free legal aid, and his research has been utilised in devising legal and policy frameworks to protect human rights.
Siniša has a DPhil with a focus on corporate accountability from the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford, as well as an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and an LLB from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Before joining UNDP, Siniša had over 20 years’ experience as a human rights lawyer, advocate, researcher and manager of donor-funded projects. He has held management and consulting positions for UNDP, OSCE, as well as other UN agencies and civil society organisations, in over 25 countries and territories in Asia, Africa and Europe. He has written legislation governing discrimination and the provision of free legal aid, and his research has been utilised in devising legal and policy frameworks to protect human rights.
Siniša has a DPhil with a focus on corporate accountability from the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford, as well as an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and an LLB from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Mindia Vashakmadze
Mindia Vashakmadze is a Programme Specialist on Human Rights at the RBEC Regional Hub in Istanbul. He is a member of the Regional Governance and Peacebuilding Team. Mindia has extensive professional experience in the fields of rule of law, human rights, justice and security sector reform, both at the national and international levels. He has experience in providing policy and legal advice, developing knowledge products, and conducting assessments and capacity building support to various professional groups. Mindia has extensive regional knowledge, having worked across Europe and Central Asia on rule of law and human rights issues. He has been responsible for the development, management and implementation of projects in support of rule of law institutions, including improving national capacities to protect and promote human rights in various countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iraq and the Palestinian Territories.
Mindia received his doctorate in international law (summa cum laude) from the University of Munich (LMU) and a master's degree from the University of Göttingen. He was also a Max Weber Fellow and faculty member at the European University Institute in Florence (EUI). Prior to joining UNDP, he worked as an international consultant/expert for the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ), and was a project coordinator and senior research fellow at the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and Rule of Law (MPFPR) for several years.
Mindia received his doctorate in international law (summa cum laude) from the University of Munich (LMU) and a master's degree from the University of Göttingen. He was also a Max Weber Fellow and faculty member at the European University Institute in Florence (EUI). Prior to joining UNDP, he worked as an international consultant/expert for the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ), and was a project coordinator and senior research fellow at the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and Rule of Law (MPFPR) for several years.
Olof Skoog
Ambassador Olof Skoog has been Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the
United Nations since December 2019. He is a Swedish diplomat with extensive experience
from a number of top positions worldwide, representing both Sweden and the European
Union.
As EU Ambassador to the UN he has built strong EU unity and established durable
partnerships among the UN membership in support of effective multilateralism, the UN
Charter, sustaining peace, respect for human rights and promoting sustainable development.
He has been Director-General for Political Affairs in the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
has represented Sweden at the European Union and at the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). He has also been Swedish Ambassador to Colombia,
Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama. He has served the United Nations as Executive Assistant to
Dr. Hans Blix in the verification of WMDs in Iraq.
With the European Union, Ambassador Skoog served as the first Permanent Chair of the EU
Political and Security Committee, coordinating the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.
He then represented the EU as Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei, also accredited to
ASEAN.
United Nations since December 2019. He is a Swedish diplomat with extensive experience
from a number of top positions worldwide, representing both Sweden and the European
Union.
As EU Ambassador to the UN he has built strong EU unity and established durable
partnerships among the UN membership in support of effective multilateralism, the UN
Charter, sustaining peace, respect for human rights and promoting sustainable development.
He has been Director-General for Political Affairs in the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
has represented Sweden at the European Union and at the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). He has also been Swedish Ambassador to Colombia,
Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama. He has served the United Nations as Executive Assistant to
Dr. Hans Blix in the verification of WMDs in Iraq.
With the European Union, Ambassador Skoog served as the first Permanent Chair of the EU
Political and Security Committee, coordinating the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.
He then represented the EU as Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei, also accredited to
ASEAN.
Ekaterina Paniklova
Ekaterina Paniklova (Kyrgyzstan) has been appointed as UNDP Resident Representative for Montenegro in October 2023.
Ekaterina Paniklova has 25 years of experience in UNDP. Prior to her appointment in Montenegro, she served as the Regional Programme Coordinator in the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub overseeing the Regional Programme portfolio and providing advisory services to 17 countries and territory in Europe and Central Asia.
Previously, she held senior managerial positions in the UNDP for Europe and Central Asia and in UNDP in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Sudan, and worked in various capacities in UNDP in Kyrgyzstan.
Ekaterina holds a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and an MBA from American University-Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, along with a diploma in history from Kyrgyz State University.
Ekaterina Paniklova has 25 years of experience in UNDP. Prior to her appointment in Montenegro, she served as the Regional Programme Coordinator in the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub overseeing the Regional Programme portfolio and providing advisory services to 17 countries and territory in Europe and Central Asia.
Previously, she held senior managerial positions in the UNDP for Europe and Central Asia and in UNDP in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Sudan, and worked in various capacities in UNDP in Kyrgyzstan.
Ekaterina holds a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from the University of London and an MBA from American University-Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, along with a diploma in history from Kyrgyz State University.
Alexandra Kuxova
Team leader on Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility at European Commission
Studied MBA at the University of Economics in Bratislava and Pierre Mendes France in Grenoble.
Back home (Slovakia) she worked as product manager in two automotive companies (Peugeot and General Motors) and afterwards joint the European agency EUIPO in Alicante where she was dealing with IP matters.
Her 16- year experience in the European Commission started in the field of State aid and she moved to DG GROW in 2013 to deal with the competitiveness of automotive sector. She has joint her current position covering Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility 6 years ago and is one of the co-authors of the proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.
Studied MBA at the University of Economics in Bratislava and Pierre Mendes France in Grenoble.
Back home (Slovakia) she worked as product manager in two automotive companies (Peugeot and General Motors) and afterwards joint the European agency EUIPO in Alicante where she was dealing with IP matters.
Her 16- year experience in the European Commission started in the field of State aid and she moved to DG GROW in 2013 to deal with the competitiveness of automotive sector. She has joint her current position covering Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility 6 years ago and is one of the co-authors of the proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.
Bojan Vujović
Bojan Vujović holds degrees from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Montenegro, where he graduated in 2011 with an average grade of 9.97.
He started his career in 2011 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration in the Sector for Technical and Financial Support of the European Union. During his further work, he covered the positions of attache, II secretary and independent advisor in organizational units that dealt with the coordination of EU funds in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration / the Ministry of European Affairs and the Office for European Integration.
Since 2013, he has been the contact person of Montenegro for the Western Balkans Investment Framework. Since 2014, he has been acting as the secretary of the Working Group for the preparation and conduct of negotiations in the area of the European Union's legal acquis, which refers to Chapter 22 - Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments, and is a member of numerous working bodies within the planning, programming and monitoring process national and regional IPA programs. From February 2019, he was assigned to the position of Head of the Department for Coordination of EU Support in the Office for European Integration, and in the system for managing the EU Pre-accession Support Instrument, he performed the duties of the Head of the Office of the National IPA Coordinator.
Since May 2020, he has been appointed as an adviser to the Deputy Chief Negotiator - National Ipa Coordinator, and Head of the Operational Structure for cross-border cooperation programs. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Negotiator - National Ipa Coordinator in the Office for European Integration on July 30, 2021. From August 2022 to January 2024, he performs the duties of Acting Director General and Director General of the Directorate for European Funds in the Ministry of European Affairs. Since then, he is General Director For The Coordination of EU Financial Support in the Ministry of European Affairs.
During 14 years of work in the public administration, he performed tasks that included the coordination of the European Union's financial support programs at various levels of complexity, with gradual advancement based on expertise and work results, with credibility in the public administration system and with international partners. He is fluent in English and Italian.
He started his career in 2011 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration in the Sector for Technical and Financial Support of the European Union. During his further work, he covered the positions of attache, II secretary and independent advisor in organizational units that dealt with the coordination of EU funds in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration / the Ministry of European Affairs and the Office for European Integration.
Since 2013, he has been the contact person of Montenegro for the Western Balkans Investment Framework. Since 2014, he has been acting as the secretary of the Working Group for the preparation and conduct of negotiations in the area of the European Union's legal acquis, which refers to Chapter 22 - Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments, and is a member of numerous working bodies within the planning, programming and monitoring process national and regional IPA programs. From February 2019, he was assigned to the position of Head of the Department for Coordination of EU Support in the Office for European Integration, and in the system for managing the EU Pre-accession Support Instrument, he performed the duties of the Head of the Office of the National IPA Coordinator.
Since May 2020, he has been appointed as an adviser to the Deputy Chief Negotiator - National Ipa Coordinator, and Head of the Operational Structure for cross-border cooperation programs. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Negotiator - National Ipa Coordinator in the Office for European Integration on July 30, 2021. From August 2022 to January 2024, he performs the duties of Acting Director General and Director General of the Directorate for European Funds in the Ministry of European Affairs. Since then, he is General Director For The Coordination of EU Financial Support in the Ministry of European Affairs.
During 14 years of work in the public administration, he performed tasks that included the coordination of the European Union's financial support programs at various levels of complexity, with gradual advancement based on expertise and work results, with credibility in the public administration system and with international partners. He is fluent in English and Italian.
Çiğdem Çımrın
Dr. Çiğdem Çımrın is a qualified lawyer in Turkey and a business and human rights expert, gained through her academic and professional work. She wrote the first PhD thesis focusing on corporate responsibility to respect human rights and HRDD in Turkey. Since 2016, she has been acting as project manager in various projects focusing on responsible business conduct and HRDD in supply chains.
Her current assignments include Independent Expert Mediator at ACT on Living Wages, Expert Advisor on BHR to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BHR Expert for the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey , Expert Advisor on BHR for UNDP Turkey, and BHR Advisor for Global Compact Turkey Network.
Dr. Çımrın is Co-Founder and Secretary General of Business and Human Rights Association, which is the first NGO focusing specifically on BHR and RBC.
Her current assignments include Independent Expert Mediator at ACT on Living Wages, Expert Advisor on BHR to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BHR Expert for the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey , Expert Advisor on BHR for UNDP Turkey, and BHR Advisor for Global Compact Turkey Network.
Dr. Çımrın is Co-Founder and Secretary General of Business and Human Rights Association, which is the first NGO focusing specifically on BHR and RBC.
Nik Gjeloshaj
Nik Gjeloshaj, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Economic Development of Montenegro, pursued his studies at the Faculty of Education, University of Priština – Higher Pedagogical School, specializing in Mathematics.
He worked in elementary and high schools in Tuzi for three years. Since the age of 20, he has been involved in entrepreneurship, launching his first business, the first internet cafe in Montenegro, opened in Tuzi in 2000. He continued his entrepreneurial initiatives in several companies in the innovation sector, particularly in the telecommunications field with a focus on VoIP technology, and later in the internet services sector.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors in Montenegro, for many years, he served as a consultant for foreign companies, mainly from the region and Western Europe, including the renowned American company Net2Phone. Despite his political involvement, he continued to provide consulting services for international companies as a telecommunications expert.
In addition to his private sector engagement, he held various public positions, including Councilor in the Municipality of Tuzi, Councilor in the Assembly of the Capital City of Podgorica, Director General in the Ministry of Education, State Secretary in the Ministry of Public Administration, and was elected as a member of the parliament for three terms as well as the mayor of Municipality of Tuzi.
He worked in elementary and high schools in Tuzi for three years. Since the age of 20, he has been involved in entrepreneurship, launching his first business, the first internet cafe in Montenegro, opened in Tuzi in 2000. He continued his entrepreneurial initiatives in several companies in the innovation sector, particularly in the telecommunications field with a focus on VoIP technology, and later in the internet services sector.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors in Montenegro, for many years, he served as a consultant for foreign companies, mainly from the region and Western Europe, including the renowned American company Net2Phone. Despite his political involvement, he continued to provide consulting services for international companies as a telecommunications expert.
In addition to his private sector engagement, he held various public positions, including Councilor in the Municipality of Tuzi, Councilor in the Assembly of the Capital City of Podgorica, Director General in the Ministry of Education, State Secretary in the Ministry of Public Administration, and was elected as a member of the parliament for three terms as well as the mayor of Municipality of Tuzi.
Lyra Jakulevičienė
Dr. Lyra Jakulevičienė is international legal scholar specialising in international and European Union law, human rights law in particular, for more than two decades. She is currently a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights for Central and Eastern Europe. Since 2005, she has pioneered on business engagement in human rights issues in the Central and Eastern European region, fostered development of business networks and guidance and advised on development of national actions plans in this area, and co-initiated social labelling initiatives.
Ms. Jakulevičienė has served as a member of the Management and Executive Boards of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, and a co-arbitrator at the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. From 1997 to 2013, Ms. Jakulevičienė worked in United Nations organisations in Lithuania, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine. She is a Professor and the Dean of the Law School of Mykolas Romeris University in Lithuania.
Ms. Jakulevičienė has served as a member of the Management and Executive Boards of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, and a co-arbitrator at the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. From 1997 to 2013, Ms. Jakulevičienė worked in United Nations organisations in Lithuania, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine. She is a Professor and the Dean of the Law School of Mykolas Romeris University in Lithuania.
Olena Uvarova
Olena Uvarova. PhD in Law (2010), Associate Professor, since 2018, she leads the International Lab on Business and Human Rights at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (Kharkiv, Ukraine). In June 2022, Olena joined Wageningen University, Law Group. She is the research coordinator in the group.
Olena has more than 20 years of experience in human rights (as a national and international consultant in the UN Women in Ukraine, Council of Europe, OSCE, USAID, UNDP, and UNICEF projects). Since 2017, she has been working on business and human rights in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. She has been also actively involved in international and regional initiatives on BHR issues led by: the UN Working group on business and human rights; the Global BHR Scholars Association; Business and Human Rights Resource Center; Danish Institute for Human Rights and others.
She was the author of the National Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights in Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and based on the methodology developed by the Danish Institute for Human Rights and ICAR. Olena has co-founded the Central and Eastern European Association on Business and Human Rights to advance peer-to-peer learning and networking across the region (together with Beata Faracik, Polish Institute for Human Rights and Business, and Jernej Cerncic, Nova University, Slovenia).
Olena is a guest Co-Editor of the Special Issue on Business and Human Rights in Eastern Europe for ‘Business and Human Rights Journal’ (Cambridge University Press) and a member of the Editorial Board of this journal. Since May 2023, she is a co-President of the Global Business and Human Rights Scholars Association.
Many initiatives on Business and Human Rights were implemented by her coordination on the national, regional and international level, in particular: Human Rights and Business were subjects of the panel discussions during Annual Kharkiv Legal Forum in 2017-2024; Co-organizing of the special session on BHR in Eastern Europe during the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in 2020-2024; Co-organizing of the Regional consultations initiated by the UN Working group on Business and Human Rights and many others.
Vladyslava Kaplina
Vladyslava Kaplina, Master of Law, Eastern Europe & Central Asia Research Assistant at Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Guest Lecturer at University of Lisbon School of Law, Assistant Integrated Researcher at Lisbon Public Law research centre.
Suat Dede
I graduated from Boğaziçi University with a degree in History in 2006 and completed my Master's in History at Bilkent University in 2011. From 2008 to 2010, I worked as an adviser at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. I then worked as an expert at the Ministry of EU Affairs from 2010 to 2018, and later as a rapporteur at the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye from 2019 to 2022, coordinating infrastructure and health projects under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT). Since 2022, I have been working at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, first as Head of the Employment Policy Department and now as Deputy Director General at the Directorate General of Labour. I have also been appointed as Türkiye's focal point for Alliance 8.7, contributing to efforts to eliminate child labour and promote decent work in line with international standards.
Sonja Tošković
Sonja Tošković, Executive Director, has LLM Diploma from Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, and is holding a position of Executive Director of Belgrade Centre for Human Rights from 1st January 2018. She has 15 years of experience in monitoring human rights violations and advocating for improvement of the human rights protection system in Serbia. Ms.Toskovic is a Chair and member of the Board of European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) for Southeast Europe and Chair of the Human Rights House Board in Belgrade. Ms. Toskovic is also author and editor of many publications and reports in the field of human rights. She has successfully managed numerous projects in cooperation with other local and international civil society organizations and diplomatic missions in Serbia and Western Balkan region.
Goga Kvaratskhelia
Goga Kvaratskhelia is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of Digital Village, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at leveraging technology to drive sustainable economic development across the globe. With a focus on harnessing the potential of the blue economy and digital innovation, Goga's work extends beyond Georgia, promoting sustainable practices and technological advancement in various regions. Under his leadership, Digital Village has been a platform for innovative solutions addressing challenges in emerging markets, particularly in the areas of economic empowerment and environmental stewardship.
Tijana Janković
Tijana Janković is the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Serbia, where she leads efforts to inspire Serbian companies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. She oversees initiatives focused on climate action, gender equality, human rights, and anti-corruption, empowering member companies to integrate corporate responsibility into their operations. With a strong background in corporate social responsibility, partnerships, and public relations, Tijana has developed expertise in building stakeholder relationships, further deepening her commitment to promoting sustainability across industries.
Tanja Lindell
Tanja Lindell, manager and founder of Responsible Business Hub(RBH) inside the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. RBH is advising service center for exporting companies on variety of topics that are connected to due diligence in supply chains like ESG, carbon accounting, GHG, decarbonization, energy efficiency, CBAM, German due diligence supply chain act (LkGW), CSDDD, HREDD.
Nevena Kostic
Nevena is a lawyer with fifteen years of experience in policy development, project management, research and strategic litigation. With a background in human rights, she has worked on the engagement of diverse stakeholders in the uptake of responsible business standards. Nevena focuses on introducing and implementing EU standards in the Western Balkans, particularly human rights, due diligence, risk assessments, and reporting. She holds a Master’s degree in European Law from the University of Belgrade and International Business Law from Queen’s University in Belfast.
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