Leo Ratledge | Co-Director

Alongside Lianne, I co-direct CRIN, primarily leading on legal and policy work.

I’m obsessed with new and emerging human rights issues and how they impact children.

I particularly focus on access to justice for children, tackling impunity for sexual violence and how children’s rights are impacted by national security law and policy.

Languages: My working language is English, but I have basic Arabic and my French is getting better.

Lianne Minasian | Co-Director

Together with Leo, I co-direct CRIN, primarily leading on internal management and governance. This includes ensuring our various strands of work run smoothly and focusing on strategic direction and fundraising. I love supporting the whole team in using our individual and collective talents to work together. I am also extremely passionate about our climate work, including collaborating with our Climate Advisers. I’m interested in how we can continue to be bold in our ideas and ways of working with others. I greatly value honesty, kindness and passion.

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” — Arundhati Roy

Languages: My working language is English and I can get by in French.

Isabelle Kolebinov | Policy and Advocacy Coordinator (Geneva)

I am CRIN’s representative in Geneva. I am the one you could meet in the corridors of the Palais des Nations, bringing CRIN’s bold ideas to the UN. My focus has recently been on climate justice, and how the environmental crisis is affecting children’s rights. I work closely with our team of Climate Advisers which is the most inspiring part of my work. Other topics of particular interest include issues such as assisted reproductive technologies, bodily integrity, and children’s civil and political rights. I am a mum of two and I love exploring new places of wonder with my girls.

“Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better” — Albert Einstein

Languages: Although I mostly work in English, my mother tongue is French.

Diana Gheorghiu | Legal and Policy Coordinator

I research and think about the role of law in shaping and realising children’s rights. I am particularly interested in how law intersects with other areas (law and tech, business and human rights).

I lead CRIN’s work on children’s rights in the digital environment, and contribute to the work on protecting children from sexual violence. I have a broad interest in children’s rights, and used to research on access to environmental justice and counter-terrorism.

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl

Languages: I really love languages. I work primarily in English, and occasionally in Spanish, French and Romanian. I understand German and Russian.

Victor Sande-Aneiros | Editor and Campaign Coordinator

My role is made up of two parts. In the first, I research, write about and hope to provoke a rethink on diverse human rights issues affecting under-18s, and getting these issues on the media’s radar. In my second role, I ally CRIN with grassroots networks in Latin America led by survivors of sexual abuse. The work here involves connecting them with other groups, building their capacity and generally supporting their campaigning for truth and justice.

“Must we be robbed of our treasure to know its real value?” — Abigail May Alcott

Languages: My working languages are English and Spanish, and my working methods are based on candour and humour. 

Larisa Abrickaja | Policy Adviser

For quite a few years I've been CRIN's regional coordinator for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and worked on everything from policy and networking to capacity building and communications.

I am now involved in CRIN's general policy work and my topics of interest are: access to justice for children in alternative care and care leavers, as well as girls' sexual and reproductive health and rights.

"You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes" — Winnie the Pooh

Languages: I am fluent in English, Russian, Lithuanian and not so fluent in quite a few other languages.

Benedict Lombe | Creative Director (Communications)

I am a writer and storyteller. I think the stories we tell about ourselves and each other have the power to shape minds, systems and futures. So what we say, and how we choose to say it, can’t be taken for granted. I’m interested in finding meaningful ways of connecting with each other, asking questions (and asking them often), bringing unusual collaborators into our orbit, and using accessible, creative mediums to communicate CRIN’s big ideas. And humour. I’ll always have room for a little humour.

“The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvellous victory.” — Howard Zinn

Languages: English; Mother tongue: Lingala and French

Miriam Sugranyes | Creative Director (Art)

My work aims to translate words and thoughts into imagery. This led me to specialise in the editorial field: conceptualising and illustrating social issues, books, articles, murals, campaigns and wine labels, among other things. I have been working as CRIN’s Illustrator and Art Director since 2013. In January 2020, I co-founded The Rights Studio, a new creative hub for people and organisations to engage on human rights issues affecting children, young people and future generations through the arts and other creative expressions.

“If a book has anything to say, it burns with a quiet laugh, because any book worth its salt points up and out of itself.” — Bohumil Hrabal

Languages: English and Spanish

Maria Than | Digital Designer

I have been at CRIN since 2018 as a Junior Graphic Designer. I was previously CRIN’s Design and Outreach Officer, before becoming the Digital Designer in 2022. I work alongside CRIN’s comms team to take our existing work and bring it to wider audiences through creativity and visual communication. From working on the website to creating content for social media to co-designing reports, I also sometimes manage some events and creative workshops both online and offline. My interests lie in design with a focus on creative tech, social good and education. I have a passion for cinema, music and anything tech! 

“Your gravest mistake wasn't failing to find the answer. You can't find the right answer if you ask the wrong questions” — Park Chan-Wook, Oldboy (2003)

Languages: I am fully bilingual in French and English with some Vietnamese and very basic rudimentary German.

Mikyla Taylor | Graphic Designer 

I am a designer. I love taking something that appears overwhelming and complicated and making it feel approachable and simple. Working for CRIN allows me to do what I love whilst helping the team spread important messages to the world. I joined the team in July 2023 after working on the rebrand earlier in the year. I now design the reports and content for the CRIN social media platforms. When I am not working, I love travelling to cold countries and immersing myself in nature. 

“The final chapter is ours to write. We know what we need to do. What happens next is up to us.” — David Attenborough 

Languages: English 

Alyson Kissner | Communications Manager

I am a poet and writer, with a background in research and advocacy related to domestic abuse and sexual violence. I’m particularly interested in interdisciplinary forms of storytelling – I like using unexpected connections and clear language to make what’s “old” feel “new” again. I care about truth and decolonisation, and I think we can say what is true in ways that are both playful and rigorous, incorporating and validating different ways of being in the world. 

As Communications Manager, I work alongside our Creative Directors and Comms team to reimagine CRIN’s existing research and policy work into varied, accessible and transformative formats. I’m also the person the team first connects with when planning our social media and digital strategies. 

“I want to try and be terrific. Even for an hour.” ― Ada Limón

Languages: English; I grew up in Canada and spoke French fluently as a child, so I’m interested in re-learning!

Martina Olivera | Legal Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator

I work together with Victor helping Latin American adults who have been sexually abused during their childhood to seek Justice, Reparations, Legal Reforms and Truth. I'm always curious and excited to explore new legal topics. I am also convinced that, in today's world, it's important to learn diverse skills to help advance the protection of children’s rights. I have a cool secret skill - I'm really good at conducting open-source investigations!

“El mundo es eso -reveló- un montón de gente, un mar de fueguitos. Cada persona brilla con luz propia entre todas las demás. No hay dos fuegos iguales (...)  otros arden la vida con tanta pasión que no se puede mirarlos sin parpadear, y quien se acerca se enciende.” ― Eduardo Galeano

Languages: My working languages are English and Spanish, but I also speak French, thanks to my Grandparents who have talked to me in French since I was really young.

Suzanne Astic | Policy and Advocacy Adviser on Children’s Rights and Chemicals

I support CRIN’s campaign on banning hazardous chemicals in the European Union. I am a passionate advocate for a toxic-free environment — no one should be exposed to harmful chemicals that might put our health and lives at risk. My work involves encouraging EU decision-makers to think more critically about children’s rights when it comes to policies on chemical safety. I love doing research on the links between human rights, the environment and health, across topics such as sustainable products and companies’ liability. 

“I don’t like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I’m going to find some.” — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Languages: English. Mother tongue: French. I have some very rudimentary Italian, and I’m working to improve my Spanish.

Saher Rashid | Climate Engagement Adviser

My work at CRIN focuses on amplifying the voices of children in conversations about climate, environment and human rights. My job is to make sure that they are heard and involved in decisions at all levels — local, regional, national and international. I have been active in spaces held by the United Nations for children and youth since 2016. I am very passionate about work that connects human rights issues and climate justice. I am also passionate about amplifying children's voices at climate negotiations by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

"I am neither pessimist nor optimist, I am merely determined." — Jean Monnet

Languages: Urdu, English, Swedish. Amateur at Spanish, French and Czech. 

Jim Patrick Wyke |

Coordinator (National Security and Children’s Rights)

I have two areas of responsibility at CRIN, leading the campaign for state armed forces to stop recruiting children and contributing to examining how counter-terrorism strategy affects children’s rights. I also have an interest in public policy and how it’s made. I have previously worked in Scottish politics and as a Civil Servant in the UK government.

“If not us then who, if not now then when?” — Folk saying

Languages: English and some very basic French.

Gisela Sin Gomiz | Legal Researcher

I support CRIN by doing research that seeks to understand how laws in different countries affect whether children can access justice on environmental issues. Based on this research, I am working to develop tools that children can use to better understand their rights and to ensure their rights are upheld. My interest in children's rights covers many other topics such as identity rights and how to advance children’s rights through legal action. As a child, I was very strong-willed and curious, and much of that exists within me today. I love to collect children's books, as I find the stories and illustrations captivating. 

Languages: I am fluent in Catalan, Spanish, English and Italian – and I can understand French. I have also studied German, Arabic and Turkish but this knowledge is now sleeping in some corner of my brain.

Katie Reid | Adviser (Children's Rights, Climate and Democracy)

My work at CRIN is focused on children’s civil and political rights in relation to democracy and environmental/climate justice. I'm interested in how we can reshape democratic processes to better involve children, bringing all generations together to make decisions about our world today, and for the future. 

My role involves researching how citizens’ assemblies, and other forms of deliberative democracy, are involving children, and what this means for children’s rights. I also work with different governments, organisations, universities and networks, advising them on the importance of involving children in democratic processes, and how to do so in safe, meaningful and creative ways.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead 

Languages: English is my mother tongue. I can speak French and Spanish fairly well, and I’ve been learning German for a few years. 

 

David Gee | Consultant Writer

Our beloved colleague David Gee passed away at the end of 2024. David supported CRIN with research and writing across a range of issues affecting children, such as the impact of toxic substances, rights in the digital sphere, and sexual abuse. His special interest was the campaign to end the military recruitment of children worldwide, and particularly in his own country, the UK. He worked on this issue for over 15 years.

There can be no doubt that if one day the UK raises its age of military enlistment to 18, it will be in no small part because of David Gee.

David was an integral part of our team, but his contribution at CRIN went beyond what he did - it was how he did it. Because who David was, at the core, was so wonderfully human. 

We have reflected on the impact David left on us on our website. We'd also encourage every reader to visit David’s blog to get a deeper sense of David as a person.

We will miss him tremendously and carry him with us, always.

“[A] spirituality of resistance and struggle cannot come into being, let alone flourish, without a counter-cultural seeing, hearing and yearning…” — Unknown

Andrew Stylianou | Finance and Administration

I’m responsible for the finance and accounting for CRIN. In addition to that I look after most HR related matters. Before working in the charity sector I worked in International Banking.

Languages: English

Veronica Yates | Founder and Director, 2009 - 2022

I was responsible for the strategic direction and creative development of the organisation. I strived to constantly rethink how we work, how we might need to change and who we should work with. A strong focus has been how to make better use of our CRIN Code, internally and externally and how we remained accountable to it. Another focus has been the development of The Rights Studio, our sister organisation in Berlin, which looks at the intersection of human rights and the arts. I am very much driven by my principles.

“We have it in our power to begin the world over again” — Audre Lorde.

Languages; English, French, Swedish. I can get by in a few others and apologise in many more.

 

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