About Us
Our Mission
We are an independent and trusted expertise center that gives a positive contribution (IMPACT) to preventing and addressing trafficking in human beings (THB or human trafficking) and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). We look at the related crimes of human trafficking, enslavement and conflict-related sexual violence independently as well as together; this makes IMPACT unique.
We wish to be a partner that makes connections transcending disciplines, between people who are committed to prevent and address human trafficking and conflict-related sexual violence. We furthermore wish to be a catalyst for discussing perceptions about human trafficking and conflict-related sexual violence and improving the protection of victims/survivors. We also undertake activities that are closely related, such as human rights education. Only when human rights are respected, the right conditions in societies are created to prevent and address human trafficking and conflict-related sexual violence.
Our Board
The IMPACT board consists of:
(The board members receive no renumeration for their work.)
Alette Smeulers
Chair Alette Smeulers is professor at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands and works at the Law Faculty and University College Groningen. In her research she focuses on [...]
Ingrid Straet
Secretary Ingrid Straet has over 30 years of professional experience in various fields and has worked the last 20 years as an entrepreneur in the services of coaching/ [...]
Suzanne Hoff
Treasurer Suzanne Hoff is International Coordinator of La Strada International, a European NGO Platform against trafficking in human beings, where she manages a broad range of tasks including [...]
Our Team
Dr. Anne-Marie de Brouwer
CRSV Expert
Expertise: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV); gender-based violence; international (criminal) law; victimology; human trafficking; women, peace and security; (sexual) terrorism; reparation; protection; transitional justice; sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Skills: Research; advice; education; awareness raising; capacity building; training; victim empowerment; advocacy; development aid; social entrepreneuring; interviewing; fund raising; evaluation; policy development; facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Country focus: Worldwide focus, with specific attention to Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, DRC, Somalia, Sierra Leone, South-Africa, Nigeria), Asia (Cambodia, Japan, South-Korea, Indonesia), and Europe (Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, the Netherlands).
Education: Dutch and International Law (Ba and LLM); International Human Rights Law (LLM); International Criminal Law (PhD).
Related activities: Chair Mukomeze Foundation; Co-Founder/Co-Owner Bèkske: Rwandan Empowerment Coffee; Member of the Team of Experts of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI).
In 2013, Anne-Marie was awarded a high Royal distinction (“Dame”/”Knight”) in the Order of Oranje-Nassau for her academic and societal work concerning conflict-related sexual violence.
Dr. Eefje de Volder
Human Trafficking Expert
Expertise: Human trafficking; international law; human rights; victim’s rights; sexual violence in conflict; gender-based violence; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Skills: Research; advice; education; awareness raising; capacity building; victim empowerment; advocacy; development aid; social entrepreneuring; interviewing; fund raising; evaluation; monitoring policy development; policy assessment; facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue.
Country focus: Worldwide focus, with specific attention to Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, the Netherlands), Africa (Rwanda, Ethiopia, South-Africa, Somalia, Nigeria), Asia (Indonesia) and South America (Suriname, Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean).
Education: Cultural Anthropology (B.Sc, M.Sc); Dutch law (Ba), International and European Law (Ba, LLM, Phd).
Related Activities: Board Member La Strada International; Advisor Combatting Human Trafficking CoMensha; Co-Founder Bèkske: Rwandan Empowerment Coffee.