Paul Divakar Namala (Chief Executive Officer)
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) and Chief Executive Officer of The Inclusivity Project. 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.
Aloysius Irudayam S. J
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.
Bisseng Queen Angeline
Bisseng Queen Angeline is the Africa Coordinator for GFOD based in Cameroon, she is a human rights expert and specialist on managing physical and digital security for activists and human rights defenders. She is a consultant and resource person on human rights issues who advocates for the rights and the recognition of the status of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) especially in West Africa. Queen holds a degree in Humanitarian Action and a certificate from the University of Georgia in the USA on African Civic Engagement; she also holds a certificate from the University of Basel in Switzerland on documentation and archiving from a perspective of dealing with the past. She is a member of the 2019 class of the Young African Leader program organised by the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). She is a member of the 2019 class of the Young African Leader program organised by the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). She is an advocate for the rights of CDWD associated with the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent and has been leading GFoD’s involvement in the African region.
Simona Torotcoi
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.
Carla Forneri Carla is an activist and interpreter based in France working for the recognition and protection of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD). As a specialist in communication, her work focuses on building the necessary alliance between the different CDWD across the world. She manages all interpretation and translation needs for the Global Forum and also supports the secretariat in the administration of the Rights Experts Program. Engaged in elevating the most marginalized voices to advance Agenda 2030, she accompanied in march 2023 the first united delegation of CDWD women at the CSW67. As an Admin and Logistics Officer, she also supported GFoD’s delegations to the High Level Political Forum and General Assembly in the UN Head Quarters in July and September 2023. Her background includes two Masters Degrees in General Linguistics and in Slavic Studies (Russian language and civilisation). She works to facilitate opening the GFoD to post-soviet spaces such the Caucasus and Central Asian regions where CDWD Roma communities are present.
Shallini Sikka 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.
Johannes Butscher
Johannes Butscher is the UN Advocacy Officer with TIP-GFoD since March 2021 based in the Americas. He previously worked in Brussels and Scotland, where he pursued a BA in Economics and Politics. In 2017, he moved to Colombia to study a MA in Peacebuilding and to support local peace projects and organisations such as the CAPAZ Institute.
Dr. Vinayaraj V. K.
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
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.
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.