Sibel TOP

Sibel  works as a senior researcher on the ALUNA project on Child protection centred strategies to fight against sexual abuse and exploitation. She is also the managing director of FRC.

Sibel holds a PhD in law from Vrije Universiteit Brussels, a Master’s degree in European Interdisciplinary studies from the College of Europe, a Master's degree from the Institute of European Studies of Université Libre de Bruxelles, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Université Libre de Bruxelles.

After completing her studies, she undertook internships in various inter (and supra) national organisations, such as International Labour Organisation, the European Commission (Directorate-General Migration and Home Affairs) and the European Economic and Social Committee. From January 2017 to September 2018, Sibel worked at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel as a researcher and communications coordinator on the DESIrE project, which aimed at reducing trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation. From October 2018 to September 2022, she was a PhD fellow of the Flanders research foundation (FWO). In the framework of her PhD thesis, Sibel conducted research on the legal relevance and actual application of the political offence exemption meant to protect political offenders, using Bourdieu's theory on the state to understand the shift in the protection of political crimes.