Mirjam Krijnen

Mirjam A.J. Krijnen[1] (born 7 May 1973) is a Dutch diplomat and politician of the progressive party GroenLinks. She served as a member of the Senate between September 2022 and June 2023, and she has worked for Aidsfonds (AIDS fund).

Mirjam Krijnen
Member of the Senate
In office
27 September 2022 – 13 June 2023
Preceded byKees Vendrik
Personal details
Born (1973-05-07) 7 May 1973
Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands
Political partyGroenLinks
Children2
Alma materRadboud University
Occupation
  • Diplomat
  • charity executive
  • politician

Early life and career

Krijnen was born in 1973 in the North Brabant village of Berkel-Enschot, where she also grew up. She studied history and the German language at Radboud University Nijmegen, graduating in early 1998, and spent some time in Norway and Germany as a student.[1][2][3]

Krijnen started her career in September 2000 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Germany and Western Europe policy officer.[1] Three years later, she became second secretary of development cooperation at the Dutch embassy in Belgrade, and she later worked as first secretary at embassies in Islamabad (2006–08) and Washington, D.C. (2009–13).[1][4] In April 2008, while she was stationed in Islamabad, embassy personnel was temporarily relocated to a luxury hotel due to security concerns as a result of the release of the short film Fitna, which is critical of Islam, by Dutch politician Geert Wilders. It had sparked protests against the Netherlands in several Muslim countries.[5] Following her diplomatic career, Krijnen worked for another five years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, filling the positions of coordinator of the women's rights and gender equality task force and of management support director starting in May 2016.[1][6]

She participated in the May 2019 Senate election as the ninth candidate of GroenLinks. Krijnen was not elected, as her party received eight seats.[7] In September 2019, she joined the management team of Aidsfonds, an Amsterdam HIV/AIDS charity, as international programs director.[1][8] After an investigation by Aidsfonds concluded that a relatively small amount of worldwide HIV/AIDS funding was spent on LGBT people, Krijnen advocated for more targeted services and safe spaces, saying that LGBT people are less likely to use care for the general population due to discrimination.[8]

Krijnen was appointed to the Senate on 27 September 2022 because of her position on the party list in 2019 after Senator Kees Vendrik had stepped down to become chair of the Platform for Social Dialogue and Reflection on Climate Policy.[9] She kept working for Aidsfonds until January 2023.[10] Krijnen ran for re-election in March 2023, being placed 11th on the party list.[11] GroenLinks won seven seats, causing Krijnen's term to end on 13 June.[1][12]

Committee memberships
  • Committee on Education, Culture and Science
  • Committee on European Affairs
  • Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Cooperation
  • Committee on Health, Welfare and Sport
  • Committee on Justice and Security[13]

Personal life

Her husband is called Arend, and they have two sons.[2] She resides in Voorburg.[1]

References
  1. "Drs. M.A.J. Krijnen (GroenLinks)". Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  2. "Mirjam Krijnen". GroenLinks (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. "Mirjam Krijnen". Robert Carr Fund. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. Assessment of Development Results - Serbia: Evaluation of UNDP's Contribution (Report). New York City: United Nations Development Programme. September 2006. p. 110. Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via Google Books.
  5. "Dutch embassy relocated for security reasons". Dawn. AP. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. "The Hague Presentation and Panel: 'Voice and Agency: Empowering Women and Girls for Shared Prosperity'". The World Bank. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  7. "Uitslag Eerste Kamerverkiezingen 2019" [Results of the 2019 Senate election] (PDF). Kiesraad (in Dutch). 12 June 2019. p. 24. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  8. Savage, Rachel (20 October 2020). "Global HIV response found to neglect gay and bisexual men, trans women". Reuters. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  9. "Krijnen (GroenLinks) geïnstalleerd als Eerste Kamerlid" [Krijnen (GroenLinks) installed as senator]. Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal (Press release) (in Dutch). 27 September 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. "Director of International Programmes Mirjam Krijnen stepping down". Aidsfonds (Press release). 24 November 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  11. "Mirjam Krijnen". GroenLinks (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  12. "Uitslag Eerste Kamer: coalitie komt veertien zetels tekort, meerderheid kan over links of over rechts" [Election results Senate: Coalition is 14 seats short, majority possible with leftist or rightist parties]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 30 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  13. "Lidmaatschappen M.A.J. Krijnen" [Memberships M.A.J. Krijnen]. Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
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