Sofía Galván Puente Email & Phone Number

• Train and supervise students from different leading US-based universities on different human rights projects (issues addressed: persons deprived of liberty, forced disappearances, indigenous rights and environmental rights).• Manage and develop human rights projects and methodological tools.• Teach human rights seminars on diverse topics, including international human rights mechanisms and practical skills for human rights advocates.• Advise on different legal issues, such as… Show more • Train and supervise students from different leading US-based universities on different human rights projects (issues addressed: persons deprived of liberty, forced disappearances, indigenous rights and environmental rights).• Manage and develop human rights projects and methodological tools.• Teach human rights seminars on diverse topics, including international human rights mechanisms and practical skills for human rights advocates.• Advise on different legal issues, such as litigation and advocacy before the Inter-American Human Rights System. • Draft and lead the drafting of amici curiae to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and national high courts. Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Coordinator of the Monitoring Section III Portfolio: Rappourteurships: Migrants, Children and Persons Deprived of Liberty Countries: United States, Canada, and the Caribbean States• Effectively managed staff lawyers and external consultants of diverse countries; oversee and coordinate work on monitoring and reporting of human rights situations, realization of programmatic goals, and reporting to donors. • Ensured quality of products required from the team through… Show more Coordinator of the Monitoring Section III Portfolio: Rappourteurships: Migrants, Children and Persons Deprived of Liberty Countries: United States, Canada, and the Caribbean States• Effectively managed staff lawyers and external consultants of diverse countries; oversee and coordinate work on monitoring and reporting of human rights situations, realization of programmatic goals, and reporting to donors. • Ensured quality of products required from the team through technical skill development.• Designed and supervise implementation of country strategies based on Commission mechanisms to respond in timely and effective manner to specific human rights violations, such as crises in Ecuador, Cuba, and Haiti.• Managed working relationships with various actors (internal and external) to facilitate fulfillment of team goals, including problem solving and creative thinking to overcome complex bureaucratic challenges. • Developed work methodologies applied to all areas of the IACHR, including designing analytical approach for annual review of human rights situations and methodology to evaluate State compliance with recommendations to advance specific human rights obligations. Show less

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

• Produced studies and reports on situation of persons deprived of liberty in states through the Americas, including: i) “Measures to Reduce Pretrial Detention in the Americas”, (voted ‘Best Publication of the Year by Institute for Democracy and Human Rights at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru);: ii) Practical Guide on Pretrial Detention, first of its kind for the IACHR.• Formulated innovative standards and recommendations on topics such as drug decriminalization, rehabilitation… Show more • Produced studies and reports on situation of persons deprived of liberty in states through the Americas, including: i) “Measures to Reduce Pretrial Detention in the Americas”, (voted ‘Best Publication of the Year by Institute for Democracy and Human Rights at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru);: ii) Practical Guide on Pretrial Detention, first of its kind for the IACHR.• Formulated innovative standards and recommendations on topics such as drug decriminalization, rehabilitation centers, and de-institutionalization of persons with disabilities.• Directed documentation of human rights violations (including design of methodologies), through dozens of visits to prisons and other detention centers across the region; gathered hundreds of testimonies from human rights victims• Effectively monitored human rights situation of persons deprived of liberty, through IACHR mechanisms. • Amplified intersectionality of discrimination factors against women and other persons at high risk through preparation of request and supporting documents for Advisory Opinion to Inter-American Court on differentiated approaches in deprivation of liberty. Show less

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

• Monitor the human rights situation in Mexico and Central America (from September 2017 to July 2019)• Monitored and analyzed human rights situations in Mexico, Central America, Cuba, and Dominican Republic through use of different IACHR mechanisms (including fields visits and human rights documentation).• Managed crisis situations, including in Nicaragua (protests in April 2018 and consequences): conducting field visit, preparing press releases, and providing technical supervision in… Show more • Monitor the human rights situation in Mexico and Central America (from September 2017 to July 2019)• Monitored and analyzed human rights situations in Mexico, Central America, Cuba, and Dominican Republic through use of different IACHR mechanisms (including fields visits and human rights documentation).• Managed crisis situations, including in Nicaragua (protests in April 2018 and consequences): conducting field visit, preparing press releases, and providing technical supervision in preparation of country report which served as basis for action of special Commission mechanism. • Prepared draft reports on admissibility and merits regarding Commission's competence to hear cases and establishing state responsibility for human rights violations (issues addressed: human rights defenders; torture, and deprivation of liberty).• Specific assignment 2013-2017: Attorney in charge of disability issues: Advised on disability issues in processing of cases, precautionary measures, and other mechanisms. Analyzed over 150 cases on disability rights. Show less

Mexico City, Mexico

• Established regional office in Mexico City• Managed staff, interns, and persons with mental disabilities; promoted culture of integration and respect, especially in moments of staff crisis.• Effectively implemented approach to strengthen DRI's work with Inter-American Human Rights System, including submission of requests for precautionary measures and petitions, as well as other mechanisms• Documented and prepared reports on human rights abuses in Mexico and Guatemala, with… Show more • Established regional office in Mexico City• Managed staff, interns, and persons with mental disabilities; promoted culture of integration and respect, especially in moments of staff crisis.• Effectively implemented approach to strengthen DRI's work with Inter-American Human Rights System, including submission of requests for precautionary measures and petitions, as well as other mechanisms• Documented and prepared reports on human rights abuses in Mexico and Guatemala, with findings subsequently covered by international press, including The New York Times and the BBC. • Established advocacy strategies to enhance visibility and advance human rights perspective to disability issues.• Trained and supported establishment and development of advocacy movements, resulting in the creation of the first and only (to date) organization in Mexico run by persons with mental disabilities.• Represented DRI in all Latin American issues in the media and other public international events. Show less

Mexico City Area, Mexico

• Prepared draft recommendations (decisions establishing responsibility of Mexico City’s authorities for human rights violations).• Researched issues on economic, social and cultural rights.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Supported the Rule of Law Initiative, Latin America and Caribbean Division.• Researched issues on human rights violations and criminal justice reform in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Panamá and México.• Reviewed legal codes and manuals to harmonize with international standards.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Evaluated individual petitions regarding alleged state human rights violations.• Prepared draft reports on admissibility related to the IACHR's competence to hear each case.• Collaborated in the organization of hearings and working meetings.

Mexico City Area, Mexico

• Researched and analyzed Mexican and International Immigration Law.• Advised on immigration issues from a human rights perspective.

Totonicapán, Guatemala

• Documented, monitored, and analyzed the conditions for the election in Totonicapán (province with the largest indigenous population in Guatemala).• Coordinated with authorities and other actors to ensure integrity, impartiality, and legitimacy of the elections.

San José, Costa Rica

• Assisted with the processing of contentious cases and provisional measures, as well as supervised compliance with the Court’s judgments.• Researched human rights issues and analyzed international human rights jurisprudence.• Collaborated in the organization of sessions of the Court in Guatemala.

Mexico City Area, Mexico

• Created the manual "Implementation of the Rome Statute of the ICC in Mexican Law.”• Investigated and analyzed International Criminal Law and incompatibilities between the Rome Statute and Mexican Law.

Master Of Laws (Ll.M.), International Human Rights Law, Magna Cum Laude - Gpa: 3.7 / 4

Graduated with Honors - Magna Cum Laude Received the University of Notre Dame Scholarship LL.M studies Thesis: American Objections.

Course On Inter-American And International Systems For The Protection Of Human Rights

Disability Law And Policy’S Summer School, Disability Studies

Bachelor Of Laws (Ll.B.), Law, Graduated With Honors - Gpa 99 / 100