About Us

IREX Europe was founded in 2004, in Lyon (France). Over the past fifteen years we’ve worked in 37 countries, mainly in the Eastern Partnership and Russia, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Europe and Central Asia.

Our work focuses on supporting human rights, good governance and promoting democracy by supporting and working with activists and civil society organisations directly, by seeking to improve education, strengthen independent media and reduce conflict.

The IREX Europe approach emphasises partnerships with local development organisations and provides training and capacity building in order to create sustainable change.

IREX Europe is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation having an annual turn-over of €3.0 million with funding support from multiple donors, including the European Union, United Nations, and individual governments.

General Objective

To promote human rights and fundamental freedoms and empower citizens so they are able to access accurate and objective information and critically engage with the media and information they consume by strengthening civil society organisations and independent media.

Specific Objective

In order to achieve these global objectives, IREX Europe aims to support and strengthen civil society organisations and independent media organisations so they are more sustainable and resilient and advocate for the respect of democratic principles, fundamental freedoms and human rights and have a more important role and position at local, national and international levels in the definition of public policies.

The core values of the organisation are:

· Freedom of Expression

· The right to education

· Equality for all peoples

· Inclusive/participative and peaceful communities

· Protection and understanding of the rights of the Individual

REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS

Annual Reports

CURRENT REPORT

Past Reports

Here is the content

2019 was a remarkable year for IREX Europe

Despite the political and financial challenges globally, we ended the year securing important opportunities to expand our work in key areas both geographically and thematically. This has allowed us to begin a process of recruitment and growth, ending 2019 in a position of strength. Our success has been built on a solid foundation of excellent and lasting partnerships in our key countries of action, and of success in building multi-donor funded multi-annual projects. However, while we are working to try to make our vision of better societies a reality in Eurasia, the MENA region, Central Asia, and here in Europe, increasing nationalism and the continued spread of populism are making the support for human rights and civil society increasingly difficult. The work of our partners and human rights activists in particular is becoming harder and more dangerous.

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Our Documents

Media and Information Literacy Manual_Yalla EMI_French

Media and Information Literacy Manual_Yalla EMI_Arabic

MedMedia: Towards Media Sector Reform In the Southern Mediterranean Region

BROCHURE MEDMEDIA_French

BROCHURE MEDMEDIA_English

Report on Freedom of Expression in Morocco_French

Report on Freedom of Expression in Morocco_Arabic

Report on Freedom of Expression in Morocco_Eng l

Journalism manual_French

Journalism manual_Arabic

Report on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Morocco_French

Report on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Morocco_Arabic

Mid-Term Report on Morocco’s Universal Periodic Review_English

Mid-Term Report on Morocco’s Universal Periodic Review_Arabic

Mid-Term Report on Morocco’s Universal Periodic Review_French

IREX Europe Staff

Mike, Director

mdevilliers(a)irexeurope.eu

IREX Europe Director Mike de Villiers has over 20 years experience in journalism, international development and media programme management. In that time, Mike has been based in Canada, Britain, Macedonia and France, and has worked in Eastern and Central Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Eurasia and Asia. He has a strong background in international affairs with a particular focus on the European Union.

Flora, Deputy Director

fgraioni(a)irexeurope.eu

Deputy Director Flora Graioni has been with IREX Europe since September 2007, managing media, media and information literacy and civil society projects funded by different organizations such as the EU, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and UN agencies. She is also involved in partnership development and project design.

Anne-Katrin, Project Manager

avioly(a)irexeurope.eu

Anne-Katrin joined IREX Europe as Programme Manager in March 2015. She manages IREX Europe’s projects to promote fundamental rights and to support Human Rights Defenders. She is also involved in project design and partnership development.

Viorica, Project Manager

vpalamarciuc(a)irexeurope.eu

Viorica Palamarciuc joined IREX Europe in April 2016. Starting October 2016, Viorica is managing IREX Europe’s Media and Information Literacy program in Moldova and provides support for the implementation of different donor funded projects. She is also involved in general research on human rights issues and independent media/ freedom of the press issues.

Pauline, Project Manager

pzanetti(a)irexeurope.eu

Pauline Zanetti joined IREX Europe as a project manager in May 2017. She is overseeing our work in Eurasia and Tunisia, focusing on the promotion of human rights, improving media literacy, and strengthening community radios.

Florence, Project Manager

fduvauchelle(a)irexeurope.eu

Florence Duvauchelle joined IREX Europe in October 2016 as a project manager and new business developer, coming from 10 years experience in international development.

Victoria, Project Manager

vstephens(a)irexeurope.eu

Victoria Stephens joined IREX Europe in January 2017. She manages IREX Europe’s projects in gender equality and media literacy.

Gabrielle, Financial Manager

gjoint(a)irexeurope.eu

Gabrielle Joint joined IREX Europe in May 2017 as IREX Europe’s Finance Manager, and oversees the financial management of all of our projects.

Natalia, Project Manager

ngladkova(a)irexeurope.eu

Natalia Gladkova joined IREX Europe in April 2016 and manages IREX Europe’s projects promoting freedom of expression and human rights in the Eastern Partnership partner countries. In addition, Natalia contributes to partnership and project development.

Siham, Project Manager

smorabite(a)irexeurope.eu

Siham Morabite joined IREX Europe in November 2019, where she manages projects focused on humans rights, freedom of expression and media literacy.

Céline, Project Manager

cmartin(a)irexeurope.fr

Céline Martin joined IREX Europe in March 2020 where she manages projects focusing on Media Literacy, Human Rights and Freedom of Expression.

Mark Whitehouse, IREX Europe President

IREX Europe President Mark Whitehouse has more than 20 years of experience in democratic and media development. He has been involved with IREX Europe since its inception in 2004 serving as its first Secretary/Treasurer.

Helena Stohanzlova, IREX Europe Secretary/Treasurer

IREX Europe Secretary/Treasurer Helena Stohanzlova is a dedicated human rights and democracy expert with 10 years experience in international relations.

Abdullahi Ahmed Abdullahi, IREX Europe Board Member

Board Member Abdullahi Ahmed Abdullahi is Director of KOW Media Corporation (KMC), a Somali-owned media company based in Hargeisa, Somailand. Abdi also set up and runs the KOW Media Foundation an NGO based in Hargeisa which promotes peace in the Horn of Africa.

Patrick Penot, IREX Europe Board Member

Board member Patrick Penot Board is director of the Lyon-based international theatre festival ’Sens Interdit’ and has worked for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Florence Wady, IREX Europe Board Member

Board member Florence Wady joined IREX Europe in 2017. She is currently a full professor at the Catholic University of Lyon and a member of the Institute for Human Rights of Lyon.

Aleksander Dardeli, IREX Europe Board Member

Board member Aleksander Dardeli joined IREX Europe in 2016. He is currently Executive Vice President for Strategy and Development of IREX Europe’s sister organisation IREX, based in Washington DC in the USA.

CONTACT US

11 rue Aimé Collomb – 69003 Lyon, France

33 (0) 980 527 829

33 (0) 980 527 829 info@irexeurope.eu