BIM Annual Report 2008 - Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für ...

Staff
Projects and networks are shaping work of and at the BIM. Staff members leave the BIM to work in
affiliated organisations or bring their experiences from there into their work at the institute.
In 2008, Barbara Kühhas returned to CARE Austria, her tasks in the area of development cooperation
were taken over by Christine Sommer, former staff member of the Institute for Integrative Conflict
Transformation and Peacebuilding. In July 2008, Claudia Sprenger, formerly working with SOS Kinderdorf
International, also joined the Development Cooperation team with the fous on rights of people
with disabilities.
Two staff members of the BIM are now scientific staff at the Austrian Constitutional Court: Iris Golden
finished her coordination work for the commissions of the Human Rights Advisory Board to start at the
Constitutional Court – her tasks have been taken over by Stefanie Krisper; Kerstin Buchinger left to
work in a law office and is meanwhile continuing her work in the field of asylum also at the Constitutional
Court.
Likewise active in the thematic area of refugees and asylum, Marta Hodasz has gained additional
expertise at the Viennes office of UNHCR and now contributes her experiences again to the Antidiscrimination
team at the BIM. Katharina Köhler currently is on unpaid leave to work on her dissertation
project on Language and Law at the Institute of Austrian and European Public Law at the Vienna
University of Economics; she will return in 2010. Katrin Wladasch, formerly involved as an external
expert (and in the establishment of the Service Centres Civic and Human Rights Education) is part of
the permanent Antidiscrimination team since summer 2008.
In the area of combatting trafficking in human beings, Julia Planitzer has filled the vacancy; she previously
worked on this topic at the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs. After the finalisation of the project
“Trafficking in Human Beings: Protection of victims’ rights in criminal proceedings and beyond”, Barbara
Unterlerchner will stay in contact with the BIM as an external expert and trainer. Since mid 2008
Bärbel Uhl works for the BIM in the context of a Twinning project against trafficking in Romania, first in
preparation of the project and as the Resident Twinning Adviser on site since November 2008.
Caroline Paar returned from parental leave in early autumn 2008 to continue her work for the Human
Rights Advisory Board.
A fellowship of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has been dedicated to support the
Special Rapporteur on Torture, since September 2008 Johanna Lober works as DAAD-fellow at the
institute. The team is now also supported on the administrative level by Helga Baumschabl who is also
responsible for the administration of university courses within the BIM secretariat.
Since spring 2008 Christof Tschohl is working on the topic of data retention and related fundamental
rights questions as well as in the area of fundamental rights training for judges.
Barbara Linder and Astrid Steinkellner, coming from different topical backgrounds at the BIM, both
changed their focus towards the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility. Assistance to the Austrian
representative in the Management Board of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency has been taken over
from Astrid Steinkellner by Anna Müller-Funk at the beginning of 2009.
Angelika Zojer supported the Centre polis during the intense phase of the democracy initiative of the
Austrian government.
Ninoslav Mladenovic, Jagoda Strasevska, Mirije Sulmati and Filippo Unterhofer, working at the BIM
office in Skopje, successfully finalised the pilot project on poverty reduction in Macedonia; part of the
staff is currently involved in preparations of a follow-up project.
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