Organizers of the Conference
Conference Founder
Mart Nutt belonged to all Riigikogu compositions from 1992 – this means eight terms of office in Riigikogu, where he was a member of the Constitutional Committee and the European Union Affairs Committee. In 2001, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the National Coat of Arms, Fifth class and in 2018, the Order of Merit of the National Coat of Arms, Second class.
As an historian and Doctor of Philosophy, Mart Nutt was highly committed to human rights. He represented Estonia in Council of Europe`s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance ECRI (1998–2013) and UN Human Rights Council Darfur mission (2007–2008). Nutt was a member of the President of the Republic of Estonia`s think tank (Presidendi Mõttekoda), Council of Jaan Tõnisson Institute and Estonian Migration Fund Council. As a member of the Estonian UN Security Council delegation, he contributed to Estonia being elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Mart was active in the Estonian Institute of Human Rights and one of the key people in organising and conducting the Institute`s annual international conferences. The topics of this year`s conference were proposed by him, also the preliminary descriptions of the panels.
Chair of the conference
The Estonian Institute of Human Rights proudly presents the 2019 conference moderator – Republic of Estonia Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise – who agreed to take over Mart Nutt`s role in organising this year`s conference. Ülle Madise has graduated from Tartu University Faculty of Law Bachelor`s and Master`s programmes cum laude and holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Public Administration from Tallinn University of Technology. Before taking up the office of Chancellor of Justice, she worked as a professor at several universities (Tartu University, Tallinn University of Technology) and as a legal advisor to the President of the Republic of Estonia. In 2019, under the guidance of Ülle Madise, the Advisory Committee on Human Rights was established aimed at advising the Chancellor of Justice in human rights issues.
Chairman of the Board, Institute of Human Rights
An Estonian politician and geographer. Hansen graduated from the Department of Geography of the University of Tartu in 1985. From 1985-1990 he worked at the Institute of Applied Geography and from 1990-1992 at the Tallinn University of Technology. He was a member of parliament from 1995-2003. In 1994–1995 he was Minister of the Environment in Andres Tarand’s cabinet. Hansen is the member of the supervisory board of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Mission Centre and the chairman of the management board of the Estonian Institute of Human Rights.
General Manager
CEO of the Institute of Human Rights and the Annual Conference of Human Rights. Aet is also the principal contact person for the speakers and official delegations during the conference, and in charge of all general issues. Aet Kukk manages both domestic and international projects at the Institute and is responsible for its main activities. Aet has studied journalism and communications at the University of Tartu and has an MA in Communications Management. Aet has previously worked at various advertising and public relations agencies. From 2004 to 2009, she worked at the Estonian Ministry of Defence.
Project Assistant
Kristiina Vain has graduated with a Bachelor`s degree from Tartu University in Politics and Government cum laude. She is currently working at the Estonian Institute of Human Rights as a Project Assistant. Kristiina Vain is one of the organisers of the conference in 2019, she also works on organising the commemoration days for the March and June deportations. Aside from human rights, Kristiina is interested in environmental protection and sustainable solutions. Kristiina Vain is active in a number of youth organisations (EÜS Põhjala, Tartu University International Relations Circle) and has participated in several professional conferences and written articles.
Project Assistant
Maarja has supported the organisation of the Estonian Institute of Human Rights annual conference and other events and undertakings. She has an MA in Social Sciences from New York City College and Barcelona Pompeu Fabra University. Maarja has been active in human rights from 2015 and worked with the Estonian Institute of Human Rights from autumn 2018. She also has long-term experience in conducting and evaluating market and other research.
Project Manager
Project manager whose job during the last eight years has been to organise conferences by helping clients find the best technical and substantive solutions and coordinating the relevant activities. After 10 years with the Estonian Business School, Silja joined the team at Pärnu Conferences, where she learned how to organise conferences from the best in the field. Today, Silja is a project manager in her own firm, Smart Event. Besides the annual conference of the Institute of Human Rights, Silja is helping to organise the Pärnu Management Conference, ICGOV, the Pärnu Finance Conference, the Pärnu Supply Chain Conference and many others.