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About Us

The Observatory is a think tank addressing the challenges, crises and innovations of the 21st century in the double perspective of policies and citizens. It focuses on three major spheres – digitalization, migration, and climate.

The ‘Policy and Citizens Observatory: digitalization, migration, climate’ is a think tank for research and policy on the major challenges, risks, crises and innovations – political, social, technological, cultural:

·        e-democracy, e-government, Internet and social media;

·        Green pact, climate and environmental activism and policies;

·        migration & mobility and refugee studies, migration & diaspora and development; minorities and integration, solidarity movements;

·        (post)democracy, populism, radicalization, youth extremism;

·        civic activism, mobilizations, citizenship, human rights;

·        urban studies – smart cities, public space, culture.

Our portfolio covers research, policy-oriented expertise, publications, civic activities, participatory practices, teaching and training.

 

Our dynamic team of senior and junior researchers, with different and complementary backgrounds, is proud to offer a unique link between academia, education, policy making and civil society.  The members of the Observatory have rich experience in research and policy consultancy on national, regional and international level, EU projects, including FP6, FP7 and Horizon 2020. Our researchers have contributed to several publications in Palgrave Macmillan, Routledge, Springer, Brill, McGill, etc.

Meet the Team

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Anna Krasteva

President

Anna Krasteva is Doctor Honoris Causa of University of Lille, France, Editor-in-Chief of Southeastern Europe (Brill/ Schöningh), Professor of Political Sciences and Director of CERMES/New Bulgarian University, President of the ‘Policy and Citizens’ Observatory.’ Her main fields of research and teaching are migration policies and politics, democratisation and post-democracy, civic mobilisations and citizenship, far-right populism. She takes part in numerous European projects - Horizon2020, Erasmus+, Europe for citizens, Global campus of human rights, etc.. Among her publications are “From migration to mobility: policies and paths”; Citizens’ activism and solidarity movements. Contending with populism (co-ed, Palgrave); Renaissance of remote places (co-ed, Routledge), Migrants and refugees. Equitable education for displaced population (co-ed);’Human rights in crisis time” (co-ed). She has been guest Professor at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris and Lille, Institute of European studies at University Paris 8, Ecole normale supérieure de Lyon, Laval University, Quebec, Metz University, Institute for Advanced Studies in Nantes and lectured at numerous European universities. She is member of the Board and Professor at ERMA (European regional master in democracy and human rights), member of the Global Campus of Human Rights. She evaluates and monitors projects for the EC, Fond Quebecois pour la Culture et société, etc. She is president and member of several international academic boards, as well as of the Diplomatic Institute in Bulgaria.

Members

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Antoaneta Vassileva

Antoaneta Vassileva is an international expert in human rights, anti-trafficking, and online safety, currently finalizing her PhD in Political Science at New Bulgarian University. With specializations in International Human Rights Law from Sweden and Canada, she coordinates the Bulgarian Safer Internet Center, focusing on child online safety and media literacy. Over the past 20 years, she has developed policies on children's and women’s rights, trafficking, and migration. Previously, she served as Secretary General of Bulgaria's National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. Since 2019, she is Member and First Vice-President (2021) of GRETA, the monitoring body of the CoE Convention on Trafficking.

The Observatory's Gender Equality Plan

This Gender Equality Plan (GEP) defines the key areas of intervention, the objectives, and the measures of ‘Policy and Citizens’ Observatory: migration, digitalization, climate’ (Observatory) for the period 2022/25 in regards to gender equality, sexual orientation and non-discrimination. The primary objective of the plan is to ensure that the Observatory is a safe place for everyone, and functions in a manner that respects equality and diversity, and is free of any form of discrimination.

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