About Us

Foundation’s Objectives

The foundation’s objectives are to investigate human rights violations and abuses, analyse and document governmental and non-governmental action that perpetuates or ignores human rights abuses and violations, and advocate for justice, peace, and collective action against grave human rights violations.

The foundation specifically focuses on misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and online propaganda that lead to violations of core human rights to life, liberty and health around the world.

We are committed to sustainable development goals in particular SDG 16, 5, 10 and 11.

The foundation defines its vision, mission and values in line with the need to have a hate free world, where diversity and pluralism at all levels and across all sectors of societies are central. For all our work, we pay careful attention to diversity, solidarity, dignity, courage and respect for law and human rights.

Named after the London Brasserie in Brussels, where the idea for the foundation was born, we have roots across continents and cultures, and are working towards making a hate free world reality in our home and host countries.

Our Team

Supervisory Board

Dr. Sengupta, Chairman, Supervisory Board

Dr. Sengupta is a STEM academic and has been one of the co-founding members of TLS. At TLS she supervises and monitors the everyday functioning of the foundation.

Dr Umair Ullah Khan, Treasurer, Supervisory Board

Dr. Umair Ullah Khan is a doctor at NHS with roots in India. At TLS he supervises and monitors the everyday functioning of the foundation.

Dr. Shaista Safder, Supervisory Board

Dr. Safder is a doctor by profession and social justice activist in her personal capacity. At TLS she is responsible for creating advocacy and networking channels.

Management Board

Ritumbra Manuvie

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Dr. Manuvie is an academic and a human rights defender. She is a Lecturer of Law at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. In her role at TLS, she is responsible for providing vision and direction to TLS and achieving the research and advocacy goals of TLS.

M van Dorssen

Operations Director, Management Board

M. van Dorssen is a psychologist who helps steer the foundations’ research and advocacy toward understanding the social and political behavior of people in online spaces. She is fluent in English and Dutch and helps with the treasury functions.

Shivam Maurya

Secretary, Management Board

Shivam Maurya is a data scientist, who uses his tools for analyzing big data in order to draw together political and social trends and look behind the veil of majoritarianism.

Alena Kahle

Advocacy Officer

Alena is responsible for communications and advocacy at TLS. She focuses on innovative advocacy with civil society and governments.

Avinash Kumar

Consultant

Avinash Kumar is responsible for grass-root engagement and developing a qualitative understanding of the hate speech in society.

Saikat Chaterjee

Chief Data Analyst

Saikat is responsible for the language engineering and machine learning workflows at TLS. He focuses on helping the team to efficiently make use of data analytics and automation in investigating the landscapes of hate speech and disinformation.

Louisa Wetzel

Research Assistant

Louisa Wetzel assists on advocacy and campaign planning and outreach.

Matam Manogna

Research Assistant

Matam Manogna has a legal education and has worked on the issues of internet shutdowns and free speech. They are currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy.

Hubert Matuszewski

Research Assistant

Hubert is a research assistant on various projects examining the online world, whether it be through machine learning algorithms or qualitative analyses of online environments.

Our Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board consists of eminent and well-regarded persons in the field of human rights, humanitarian aid, diplomacy, politics and law. Current Advisors include: Professor Ruchira Gupta, Simone Filippini, Richard Wilson, Sunita, Aakar Patel, Iman Atta (OBE), Osama Manzar, Amir Ullah Khan, Pratik Sinha

ANBI Status

Acknowledged by Dutch Tax Services as ANBI from 01-01-2021. For further information: www.belastingdienst.nl/anbi

General information

Stichting the London Story is registered on 26 March 2020
Business address:
Stichting the London Story,
The Humanity Hub, 2511 CJ, 58,
The Netherlands
Kvk nr. 77721306.
RSIN nr.861108462
info@thelondonstory.org
www.thelondonstory.org

Policy Plan and Financial Statements

The current policy plan and by-laws can be found here.

Articles of Association (only in Dutch) can be found here
Financial accountability 2021

Remuneration policy board and supervisory board

The supervisory board members and the board members receive no remuneration for their board functions.

Remuneration policy directors and employees

In 2020 the Foundation was completely volunteer led with no remuneration and no substantive fundraising activities taking place.

In 2021 the remuneration for consultants and volunteers of Stichting is projected to be within the middle margin of the NGO-sector salary scale. The hourly brutto remuneration of the Executive Director(s) of Stichting is 40 EUR since 1st January 2021 (remunerated pro rata). Remuneration scales are well beneath the maximum ceiling of 158.000 EUR within the framework of Goede Doelen Nederland (GDN)

Grant acceptance policy

The Stichting accepts micro-donations, project funds, grants, core-funds and capacity building funds from private individuals and foundations worldwide. The Stichting does not solicit or accept donations by governments, directly or indirectly. This includes governments, government foundations, and government officials. Given the sensitive nature of our work, we do not mention the names of our donors on our website. Such information is provided to auditors upon request in compliance with our legal obligations, and reported to funders and donors by means of regular narrative and financial reports, progress updates, and annual statements and final reports. Funds are accepted in accordance with our emerging Donations Acceptance Policy, which examines compatibility of the donating entity and fund with the goals of the foundation, transparency of sources, nature and reputation of funder, conditions for granting a donation, and more. Donations and grants can be refused if there are grounds to do so. We do not accept donations and grants from (actors in) countries with which India is currently at conflict.

Transparency in the European Union

We are registered in the EU’s Transparency Register and take transparency very seriously. Therefore, we have published our advocacy strategy in the European Union and maintain a public list of our meetings here.