Announcement of new Executive Director of the ERRC

The Board of Directors of the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Vera Egenberger as the new Executive Director of the organisation.

Based in Budapest, Hungary, the ERRC is an international public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma. The approach of the ERRC involves, in particular, strategic litigation, international advocacy, research and policy development, and human rights training of Romani activists. Since its establishment in 1996, the ERRC has helped to equip Roma with the tools necessary to combat discrimination and win equal access to governance, education, employment, health care, housing and public services. The ERRC works actively in approximately 20 European countries.

Ms. Egenberger brings over 15 years professional and volunteer experience as well as considerable expertise in human rights, anti-racism and anti-discrimination issues. Her background ideally merges practical aptitude in human rights activism and managerial qualities attained at national and international level in the NGO sector, as well at an inter-governmental body. Her previous professional posts include directing the European Network against Racism (ENAR), Brussels, from 1999 to 2005. ENAR is a membership organisation of NGOs in all European Union (EU) member states and aims to influence decision-making at the EU level regarding issues of racism and equal treatment.

Vera Egenberger aims in her new role as Executive Director at the ERRC to build on the outstanding work and accomplishments of her predecessor Dr. Dimitrina Petrova, who moved on to establishing a new NGO, The Equal Rights Trust, to combat discrimination at all levels. Ms. Egenberger emphasises the importance of strategic litigation as a very strong instrument to enforce human rights for Roma and underlines that the ERRC will employ this tool to its maximum extent. She is looking forward to intensifying the co-operation with Roma organisations for a common goal; to improve the living conditions of Roma in the long run.

The ERRC Board of Directors has full confidence in Ms. Egenberger’s solid background, knowledge and skills in human rights activism for combating racism, and her zestful enthusiasm in carrying out the organisation’s future activities.