Amsterdam, September 14, 2020 - On September 1, Jerrol Marten (1963) took office as director of Stichting Meldpunt Discriminatie Regio Amsterdam (MDRA). Marten succeeds Vincent Verkoelen who acted as acting director as of September 1, 2019.
For the past 13 years, Marten has worked to combat human trafficking. Among other things, he worked at CoMensha Foundation, the national Coordination Center against Human Trafficking in Amersfoort as manager/adjunct director. Then he became a partner at Sustainable Rescue Foundation which, together with chain partners, tries to create sustainable barriers in the fight against human trafficking This by disrupting the business model of human traffickers. Before that, he has worked in the business world in commercial positions and has held various management positions in welfare work in Amsterdam-Zuidoost and at Reclassering Nederland. Marten lived in Amsterdam for 27 years.
"I think it is important that everyone can participate in our society on an equal footing and have the same opportunities and chances that I had. Unfortunately, I also still see too much opportunity inequality around me. I cannot stand injustice, which is why exclusion and discrimination must be prevented and fought against" said Marten.
Marten will focus in the coming period on further professionalizing the Discrimination hotline and strengthening its external focus. Increasing the willingness to report is still an important goal. Working together, connecting with partners and raising awareness are keywords. Marten is accountable to the board of the MDRA Foundation.
About the Discrimination Hotline
The Meldpunt Discriminatie Regio Amsterdam (www.mdra.nl) is an independent foundation with the goal of fighting and preventing discrimination and influencing social processes that underlie it. Its core tasks are complaint handling, mediation and registration, counseling, monitoring and research. MDRA works as a statutory institution for all residents of Aalsmeer, Amstelveen, Amsterdam, Diemen, Ouder-Amstel and Uithoorn.