Mexico City, Mexico
I graduated in law and I hold two Masters Degrees (Human Rights from the University of Glasgow and International Studies from the University of Barcelona). I have over 13 years of work experience in human rights, in particular with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in different positions and contexts (Colombia, Guatemala, oPt and HQ Geneva, and South Sudan within the UN mission/UNMISS), in addition to civil society organizations (Italy and oPt). I am fluent in English, Spanish and have good working knowledge of French and Portuguese. With OHCHR, I gained extensive experience in human rights monitoring and reporting, always integrating a gender perspective, dealing with civil and political rights, ESCR, business and human rights, migration. I also supported capacity-building programs for state actors, national human rights institutions, civil society and human rights defenders, in a number of substantive human rights areas and processes. I had coordination responsibilities in the humanitarian area, for the protection cluster, in oPt and Guatemala. I used to contribute to various legally based and human rights reports, communications, briefing notes, statements or other products. I can ensure extensive and proven experience in coordinating with state authorities, civil society organizations, UN agencies and clusters/working groups. In Colombia, I was the regional coordinator of OHCHR Medellin Office, and I had coordination responsibilities in Guatemala as well, as international coordinator of the ESCR Unit. In South Sudan and Gaza Strip/oPt, I performed as OiC of my unit/sub office, whenever requested.
I served as coordinator of the Medellin office, covering Antioquia and Cordoba departments. I supervised eight colleagues (2 IUNVs and 6 NOA). My duties included: 1. Coordinating human rights strategy and priority work, including monitoring and documentation of human rights cases on civic space, HRDs, with focus on the internal armed conflict, reporting and capacity-building to authorities and civil society. 2. Coordinating drafting of periodic and thematic written inputs, including to the Human Rights Council, briefing notes, and other products. 3. Representing OHCHR regional office in meetings with donors, UN system, diplomatic community, authorities and civil society. 4. Providing advice to senior management on issues pertaining to human rights and political advocacy. 5. Defining staff and office workplans, budgets, overseeing thematic and administrative areas, ensuring compliance with internal policies, such as on security and prevention of sexual harassment and abuses (PSEA).
Desk Officer in FOTCD/Americas section. My duties included: 1. Supporting field operations in Venezuela and Guatemala, including as related to HRC mechanisms and treaty-bodies. 2. Drafting of periodic and thematic written inputs, briefing notes and other products on countries assigned for treaty bodies reviews (CEDAW, CMW, CRPD, ICCPR), Special Procedures, UPR, UNOCC and prevention mechanisms, HC/SG updates to the Human Rights Council and General Assembly. 3. Engaging diplomatic and NGO community, including related to the HRC mechanisms. 4. Technical assistance to civil society from countries assigned in coordination with field presences, such as on human rights mechanisms. 5. Focal point on migration for the Americas section, supporting Venezuela migration project, particularly by coordinating the drafting of monthly bulletins for donors and other stakeholders. 6. Providing advice to senior management on issues pertaining to human rights and political advocacy.
Remotely from Italy due to the COVID restrictions. I belonged to the capacity-building unit. My duties included: 1. Preparation of reports and other written inputs for internal/external audiences. In particular, coordination and drafting of ECHO donor interim report, in coordination with thematic units and administrative area. 2. Substantive contribution to workshops and other activities of the capacity-building unit work plan, targeting state authorities, civil society and NHRI with focus on the security and justice sector reform, and international human rights mechanisms. 3. Leading activities and meetings of the AP10 Working Group on the security sector and human rights.
Initially in the Civic and Democratic Space Unit, then international coordinator of the ESCR Unit, supervising two IUNVs. My duties included: 1. Monitoring, documentation and follow-up on human rights cases and situations, with focus on civic space, ESCR, business and human rights, and migration. 2. Technical assistance to judicial and administrative authorities, civil society, indigenous and rural communities, rural workers and trade unionists, victims of human rights violations and the NHRI. 3. Preparation of written inputs for reporting products, including to the Human Rights Council and General Assembly. 4. Representing OHCHR in meetings with donor and diplomatic community, NGOs and UN system. 5. Contribution in inter-agency working groups of the humanitarian (as protection cluster co-lead) and development system (as UNSDCF focal point). 6. Orientation and guidance to junior staff, supervising individual workplans.