Karla Torres Email & Phone Number

New York City

Using a human rights and social justice framework, lead the Center's efforts in the development and implementation of policy, advocacy, and legal strategies in the field of assisted reproduction in the United States, including on infertility and access to care, surrogacy, and embryo personhood in custody disputes.

New York, New York

Worked in close partnership with grassroots organizations to develop and carry out comprehensive campaigns for change under the End Sexual Violence and End Harmful Practices programs. Specifically, I identified and worked with local partners in the Americas region to raise issues of sexual violence and other human rights violations affecting women and girls and to develop and implement advocacy campaign strategies. Additionally, I worked with partners to identify potential cases for strategic impact litigation. In support of campaigns and litigation, I drafted actions, undertook legal research and policy analysis, and drafted submissions to communicate with national governments and international and regional human rights bodies. I worked closely with the Development and Communications teams to create and carry out communications and media plans and represented Equality Now externally on coalitions and conferences and at events as required.

New York, New York

Worked on U.S.-based reproductive rights advocacy projects focusing on issues including access to affordable reproductive health care and maternal health. In support of these, I undertook legal and factual research and analysis and drafted advocacy materials that incorporated a human rights analysis and contributed to the development of international human rights norms and their domestic implementation in the U.S. I drafted legal submissions to United Nations and inter-governmental treaty monitoring bodies and human rights experts including shadow reports, urgent appeals, and thematic hearing requests. Additionally, I assisted senior staff with developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including reproductive justice organizations, immigrant and human rights groups, and other domestic constituencies; federal and state policy makers; and international and regional human rights experts. I also engaged in oral advocacy on behalf of our projects and in representation of the Center, including during coalition meetings, conferences, and during the U.S.' Universal Periodic Review.

New Delhi, India

Managed a national advocacy project to improve the reproductive and sexual health rights of children, adolescents, and women in India. Initiated, developed, and supported Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and writ petitions on diverse reproductive, sexual, and health rights before India’s Supreme Court and its State High Courts. Conducted fact-finding missions throughout India and wrote reports on human rights violations that were used as the factual basis of our PILs and writ petitions. Organized and conducted trainings, seminars, and consultations on reproductive rights issues at the state- and national-level. Collaborated with lawyers and managed legal interns on a daily basis.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Worked closely with Americas Division researchers on subject-matter and time-sensitive research projects that analyzed human rights situations in Latin American countries. Conducted in-depth research and critical analysis of Latin American governments, produced nuanced writings on human rights situations in those government, and undertook heavy bilingual editing of world reports, country reports, and press releases.

Assisted in trial preparation before courts and administrative agencies, researched issues related to employment discrimination, and drafted discovery documents. Duties included performing intake interviews of potential clients, interviewing potential witnesses, working with clients to respond to discovery requests, drafting correspondence to administrative investigators and opposing counsel, and drafting motions for proceedings regarding employment discrimination, whistleblower, and civil rights litigation.

Researched and wrote memos on family law and domestic violence for supervising attorneys. Organized and maintained client files for hearings, conducted discovery in dissolution cases, and interacted with clients on a daily basis in both English and Spanish. Conducted intake interviews of potential family and immigration law clients, including cases that involved U-Visa and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions. Helped domestic violence survivors apply for Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) at Bay Area Legal Aid's clinic on a weekly basis.

Researched and wrote legal memoranda on national and international environmental, sustainable development, and global warming projects. Assisted research fellows and legal staff in editing environmental policy publications.

Researched and wrote legal memos on issues including mental health disability legislation. Drafted judicial orders and motion responses. Updated the Magistrate Judge Bench Book for Mental Health calendar Judges.

Assisted Professor Varona in organizing the 2009 LatCrit XIV Conference. Organized paper and panel proposal and helped create conference program.

Assisted three attorneys specializing in Social Security law. Organized and maintained client files before hearings. Translated meetings and documents between Spanish-Monolingual clients and attorneys.

Master’S Degree, International Relations And Affairs

Juris Doctor, Law

Activities and Societies: Sustainable Development Law and Policy Brief, Senior Editor; Womens' Law Association; Latino/a Law Students.

Bachelor Of Science - Psychology, Minored In Legal Studies And Italian Studies

Activities and Societies: International Hip Hop Festival, Organizer; Zeta Omega Eta Sorority, Founding Class.

Psychology, Italian Studies