The Pro Bono Guide is a directory of people and organizations (who agreed to register) offering free counseling services and/or legal assistance for representation before the Inter-American Commission and Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The Guide is organized by country and in the information is presented in alphabetical order.
Argentina
Asociación por los Derechos Civiles (ADC)
Asociation for Civil Rights
Contact
Felicitas Rossi frossi@adc.org.arAlejandro Segarra
Area of Expertise
Right to freedom of expression, access of information, due process, asociation, from any discrimination; Economic, social and cultural rights, among others.
Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
Contact
Liliana Tojo sur@cejil.org
Area of Expertise
Protection of human rights in the Inter-American System . While CEJIL is an organization that provides legal aid throughout the region, CEJIL 's office in Buenos Aires provides advice or legal representation regarding emblematic cases of human rights violations focused primarily in the Southern Cone. For other regions refer to CEJIL offices in Brazil, Costa Rica or the US.
Bolivia
Centro de Estudios Jurídicos e Investigación Social (CEJIS)
Center for Legal Studies and Social Investigation
Contact
Leonardo Tamburini (Investigador) ltamburini@cejis.orgHernán Ávila Montaño (Director Ejecutivo) havila@cejis.org
Area of Expertise
Defense of human rights, land, and territory; Defense of constitutional guarantees; Ownership, control and indigenous territorial governance; Legislation on natural resources and the rights of indigenous peoples.
Oficina Jurídica Para La Mujer (OJM)
Legal Office for Women
Area of Expertise
Women's rights
Brasil
Centro pela Justiça e o Direito Internacional
Contact
Beatriz Affonso brasil@cejil.org
Area of Expertise
Protection of human rights in the Inter-American System . While CEJIL is an organization that provides legal aid throughout the region, CEJIL 's office in Rio de Janeiro provides advice or legal representation regarding emblematic cases of human rights violations focused primarily in Brazil. For other regions refer to CEJIL offices in Argentina, Costa Rica or the US.
Conectas Human Rights
Contact
Juana Kwitel conectas@conectas.org
Area of Expertise
Conectas Human Rights presents cases before the Inter-American System, preferably when they are cases already worked by the organization at the national level
Conselho Indígena De Roraima CIR
Indigenous Council of Roraima
Contact
Joenia Batista de Carvalho (Advogada/Assessora Juridica) joeniac@yahoo.com.brMario Nicácio (Coordenação Geral do CIR) mariowapichana@hotmail.com
Area of Expertise
Rights of Indigenous people
Gabinete de Assessoria Jurídica às Organizações Populares GAJOP
Legal Advisory Office for Popular Organizations
Contact
Rodrigo Deodato gajop@gajop.com.brAna Célia Lima (Cordenação Executiva)
Area of Expertise
Human rights; right to security and justice; civil, political and social rights; UN and OAS systems.
Geledés - Instituto da Mulher Negra
Geledes-Institute for Black Women
Contact
Rodnei Jericó da Silva (Coordenador do SOS Racismo) geledes@geledes.org.br
Area of Expertise
Fights against racism and sexism
Global Justice
Contact
Sandra Carvalho sandra@global.org.br
Area of Expertise
Global Justice is a non-governmental human rights organization that since 1999, works with the protection and promotion of human rights and the strengthening of civil society and democracy. In this sense, our actions aim to denounce human rights violations, the focus of policy-making processes based on fundamental rights, promote the strengthening of democratic institutions, and require the guarantee of rights for the excluded and victims of human rights violaçõesde. Global Justice develops work in the following areas: i) Human Rights Defenders; II) Institutional Violence and Public Security; III) Access to Justice; IV) Rights and Economic, Social Cultural (ESC). Field research is the backbone of our work and the basis for leveraging the documentation work, impact advocacy, international strategic litigation and communication. The close ties of working with grassroots groups across the country give JG ready access to primary sources of information as well as an informed and overview of the nature of human rights violations throughout the country.
Movimento Nacional de Direitos Humanos MNDH
National Movement for Human Rights
Contact
Gilson Cardoso secretariamndh@gmail.com
Area of Expertise
Human Rights
Rede Social de Justiça e Direitos Humanos
Social Network for Justice and Human Rights
Contact
Cláudia Ap. Felippe claudia@social.org.br
Area of Expertise
The social network works on economic, social , cultural, environmental , civil and political . Their main focus is on collective rights and includes the use of legal mechanisms of protection of human rights at national and international level; basic job training; research and production of educational materials, books and report; and the creation of social networks to protect human rights.
Sociedade Paraense de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos
Paraense Society for the Defense of Human Rights
Contact
Marco Apolo Santana Leão (Diretor Geral da SSDH) sddh@ssdg.org.br
Area of Expertise
Human rights violations carried out by law enforcement officials; services to victims of violence and their family members.
Terra de Direitos
Contact
Darci Frigo ou Fernando Prioste terradedireitos@terradedireitos.org.brArea of Expertise
Social, economic, cultural rights; Environmental rights and the rights of human rights defenders.
Chile
Corporación Humanas-Chile
Contact
Carolina Carrera Ferrer ccarrera@humanas.clArea of Expertise
Women's rights
Observatorio Ciudadano
Contact
Jose Aylwin (Co-Director) jaylwin@observatorio.clNancy Yañez (Co-Directora) nyanez@observatorio.cl
Area of Expertise
Protection of the rights of indigenous groups.
Rivadeneira, Colombara y Zegers Abogados
Contact
Ciro Colombara ccolombara@rcz.clArea of Expertise
International Human Rights Law (freedom of expression; due process; discrimination; economic, social, and cultural rights; public interest)
Colombia
Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo
Contact
Rafael Barios Mendivil rbarriosm@aol.comJomar Ortegón
Area of Expertise
International human rights law; International humanitarian law, International; International criminal law
Grupo Interdisciplinario por los Derechos Humanos GIDH
Contact
María Victoria Fallon M. (Directora Carrera) gidhu@une.net.coArea of Expertise
Advice and support to victims of human rights violations, to come to the competent authorities of the local and national levels, in order that the violations are investigated, to prosecute and punish those responsible and adequate reparations to the victims or their families. Accompanying witnessed human rights violations and seeking mechanisms and resources to achieve their appearance and protection. Processing of cases before the Inter-American Human Rights System, including representation to apply precautionary and provisional measures. Activating the mechanisms of constitutional protection as guardianship, the right to petition and group actions. Support and advice to victims of human rights violations to appear before the authorities responsible for providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups.
Costa Rica
Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
Contact
Marcia Aguiluz mesoamerica@cejil.orgArea of Expertise
Protection of human rights in the Inter-American System . While CEJIL is an organization that provides legal aid throughout the region, CEJIL 's office in San Jose provides advice or legal representation regarding emblematic cases of human rights violations focused primarily in Mexico and Central America. For other regions refer to CEJIL offices in Argentina, Brazil, or the US.
Fundación para la defensa de los derechos humanos en Centroamérica (FUNDEHUCA)
Area of Expertise
Fundehuca works all human rights issues. The Commission has some experience in the difficult issue of collective and individual labor rights.
Ecuador
Clínicas Jurídicas de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Contact
Farith Simon dsalazar@usfq.edu.ecDaniela Salazar fariths@usfq.edu.ec
Area of Expertise
Human rights; Rights of children and teenagers; Environmental Rights.
Fundación Regional de Asesoría en Derechos Humanos (INREDH)
Contact
David Cordero Heredia defensores@inredh.orgHarold Andrés Burbano Villarreal
Area of Expertise
Litigation in the Inter-American System; protection of human rights defenders, leaders, and grassroots organizations; Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Evironmental defense; People deprived of liberty.
El Salvador
Asociación Pro-Búsqueda de Niñas y Niños Desaparecidos
Contact
Ester Alvarenga esteralvarenga@hotmail.comArea of Expertise
Forced Disappearances
Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho (FESPAD)
Contact
Abraham Abrego abrahamabrego@fespad.org.svSaúl Baños sbanos@fespad.org.sv
Area of Expertise
Economic, social and cultural rights
Grupo de Monitoreo Independiente de El Salvador
Contact
Vinicio Ernesto Sandoval viniciosandovalgmies@gmail.comArea of Expertise
International litigation of workers rights.
Instituto de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Centroamericana “José Simeón Cañas” (IDHUCA)
Contact
José Benjamín Cuéllar Martínez idhuca@gmail.comPedro Antonio Martínez González
Area of Expertise
Children and youth; workers rights; transitional justice and strategic litigation.
Oficina de Tutela Legal del Arzobispado de San Salvador
Contacto
Lic. Ovidio Mauricio González tutela@tutelalegal.org
Area of Expertise
Derechos Humanos.
Estados Unidos
Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern Law School
Contact
Sandra Babcock, Blumh Legal Clinic s-babcock@law.northwestern.eduArea of Expertise
Death penalty.
Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
Contact
Viviana Krsticevic washington@cejil.orgArea of Expertise
Protection of human rights in the Inter-American System. Inasmuch as CEJIL is an organization that provides legal services on a regional level, the Washington office of CEJIL provides advice and representation with respect to emblematic cases of human rights abuse in the Andean region, the Caribbean, United States and Canada. With respect to other regions, wee the offices of CEJIL in Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica.
Disability Rights Law Clinic, American University, Washington College of Law
Jasmine Harris jasmineh@wcl.american.edu
Maribel Yamat
Area of Expertise
Any case related to mental or physical disability.
Human Rights Consultant
Contact
Eric Tars (Director of Human Rights and Children's Rights Programs) ertars@nlchp.orgArea of Expertise
Racial discrimination, housing, education, juvenile justice and human rights mechanisms.
International Human Rights Clinic, George Washington Law School
Contact
Arturo Carrillo acarrillo@law.gwu.eduArea of Expertise
International human rights litigation and advocacy in a range of fora including the Inter-American System; the United Nations; US Courts; and Latin American legal and political systems.
International Human Rights Clinic, Human Rights Program, Harvard Law School
Contact
Fernando Delgado (Clinical Instructor) fdelgado@law.harvard.eduDeborah Popowski (Clinical Instructor) dpopowski@law.harvard.edu
Area of Expertise
Experience with range of rights violations and countries, with a focus on Brazil and the United States, fluency in Portuguese, Spanish and English, working knowledge of French.
International Human Rights Law Clinic, American University, Washington College of Law
Contact
Prof. Rick Wilson (Director) rwilson@wcl.american.eduArea of Expertise
Since 1990, student advocates at the Clinic have handled more than 30 cases at the Commission and Court on all aspects of its work: contentious and advisory cases as well as country situation and issues reports. We have frequently served as co-counsel with lawyers in the United States and the English-speaking Caribbean on petitions dealing with the death penalty, terrorism and other criminal justice issues.
International Human Rights Law Clinic, University of Virginia School of Law
Contact
Deena R. Hurwitz deena@virginia.eduArea of Expertise
General international human rights.
National Immigration Law Center
Contact
Marielena Hincapie (Executive Director) hincapie@nilc.orgArea of Expertise
Protecting the rights of low-income migrants in the United States, willing to co-counsel with or provide technical assistance to other organizations.
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
Contact
Eric Tars etars@nlchp.orgArea of Expertise
Housing, poverty, racial discrimination.
Rutgers Law School Constitutional Litigation Clinic
Contact
Prof. Penny Venetis Rutgers Law School pennyv@kinoy.rutgers.eduArea of Expertise
Civil rights law and international human rights law.
SUNY Buffalo Law School, Human Rights Center. The State University of New York
Area of Expertise
Human Rights
The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
Contact
Marie-Claude Jean-Baptiste mjeanbaptiste@nycbar.orgArea of Expertise
Offers pro bono legal services to unrepresented petitioners before the IACHR and the IACrtHR and pro bono legal research and analysis for NGOs.
Transnational Legal Clinic, University of Pennsylvania Law School
Contact
Sarah Paoletti paoletti@law.upenn.eduArea of Expertise
Migration; labor; economic, social and cultural rights.
Guatemala
Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo
Contact
Mario Polanco (Director) director@gam.org.gtExpertise area
Familiares de víctimas de la desaparición forzada.
Instituto de Estudios Comparados en Ciencias Penales
Contact
Mario Avalos (Director) iccpg@iccpg.org.gtExpertise area
Instituto de Estudios Comparados en Ciencias Penales
Honduras
Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos en Honduras (COFADEH)
Contact
Lic. Bertha Oliva berthacofadeh@yahoo.comExpertise area
Derechos Humanos.
Equipo de Reflexión Investigación y Comunicación (ERIC)
Contact
Joaquín A. Mejía R. jamejiarivera@eric-sj.orgIsmael Moreno direccionericrp@eric-sj.org
Expertise area
Investigación académica y defensoría de Derechos Humanos.
Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña (OFRANEH)
Expertise area
Defensa de los derechos humanos, territoriales y culturales del pueblo garifuna de Honduras.
México
Asilegal
Contact
José Luis Gutiérrez asilegal@prodigy.net.mxExpertise area
Defensa y promoción de los derechos humanos. Litigio estratégico, específicamente de personas en situación de vulnerabilidad
Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña "Tlachinollan"
Expertise area
tortura, desapariciones forzadas, ejecuciones extrajudiciales, derechos económicos y sociales, derechos de los pueblos indígenas, violaciones cometidas por el ejército.
Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres, A.C.
Expertise area
Defensa de los derechos humanos de las mujeres, particularmente el derecho a vivir sin violencia, capacitación a servidores públicos, cabildeo legislativo para incorporar la perspectiva de género y los estándares internacionales. Defensa a defensores de Derechos Humanos y personas con familiares víctimas de desaparición forzada.
Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de las Casas
Contact
Víctor Hugo López (Director) frayba@frayba.org.mxLidia lrojas@frayba.org.mx
Expertise area
Promoción y defensa de derechos humanos.
Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Francisco de Vittoria
Contact
Clara G. Meyra Segura coordinacion@derechoshumanos.org.mxExpertise area
Promoción y defensa de derechos humanos, derechos económicos, sociales y culturales, y derechos humanos de las juventudes, Sistema Interamericano.
Comisión de Solidaridad y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos A.C. (COSYDDHAC)
Contact
Javier Ávila Aguirre (Presidente) cosyddhac@prodity.net.mxFelipe de Jesús Ruiz Becerra
Guadalupe Montoya Mercado
Expertise area
Defensa de derechos humanos, capacitación y apoyo para casos de litigio internacional. Privilegiando el servicio a los indígenas en la Sierra Tarahumara.
Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de Derechos Humanos, A.C. (CMDPDH)
Contact
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez direccion@cmdpdh.orgOctavio Amezcua defensa@cmdpdh.org
Expertise area
Litigio estratégico ante el Sistema Interamericano de Protección y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos; en particular temas sobre el debido proceso legal; DESC; tortura, desapariciones forzadas, ejecuciones extrajudiciales, acceso a la justicia para mujeres víctimas de violencia en razón del género.
Nicaragua
Centro Nicaraguense de Derechos Humanos (CENIDH)
Contact
Vilma Núñez de Escorcia direccion@cenidh.orgMauro Ampié Vilchez cenidh@cenidh.org
Marlin Sierra Palma mampie@cenidh.org
Expertise area
Promoción y protección de los derechos humanos.
Panamá
Centro de Iniciativas Democráticas (CIDEM)
Área de especialización
Paraguay
Coordinadora por los Derechos de la Infancia y la Adolescencia
Expertise area
Defensa y vigilancia de DDHH, promoción y participación de niños, niñas y adolescentes, comunicación y fortalecimiento institucional.
Perú
Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDDHH)
Contact
Rocío Silva Santisteban info@derechoshumanos.peExpertise area
Derechos Civiles y Políticos, Derechos Económicos Sociales Culturales, Medio Ambiente, Pueblos indígenas.
Uruguay
Instituto de Estudios Legales y Sociales del Uruguay (IELSUR)
Contact
Dr. Jorge Pan ielsur@chasque.netExpertise area
Derechos Humanos.
Servicio Paz y Justicia - SERPAJ Uruguay
Contact
Dr. Guillermo Payssé serpajuy@serpaj.org.uyProf. Fernando Willat
Dra Graciela Romero
Expertise area
Derechos Humanos.
Venezuela
Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Justicia y Paz del Estado Aragua
Expertise area
Atención de casos de violación a los derechos civiles.