“I was born and raised in a small town on the Argentine plains. From an early age, I developed a strong awareness of environmental issues and, even as a primary school child, I felt compelled to speak out when I encountered injustice or unfairness. At the time, my love of reading ignited a transformative encounter with a book that outlined 50 actions children could take to save the planet, many of which I enthusiastically implemented. This inspired my belief in the power of individual action for the greater good – for a more just and sustainable world.

In law school, I soon realized that a path including both international law and human rights was the one I wanted to take, as it catered to both my passion for justice and the international perspective I valued. I went on to complete an LLM in International and European Law, specializing in international human rights law.

After graduation, I followed my passion for human rights and embarked on a journey of exploration, delving into various aspects of the field from different perspectives: At the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) in Washington, DC, I gained insights into litigation within the Inter-American human rights system; at the Human Rights Office of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) in Madrid, I approached the field from a governmental perspective; at the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) in London, I deepened my understanding of the critical role of protecting the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession in advancing human rights; my time with the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) enlightened me as to the powerful influence of politics in advancing human rights globally, while also recognizing its potential to impede progress when political interests overshadow humanitarian needs.

Aware of the powerful influence that corporations have on the advancement (and regression) of human rights, I decided to use my expertise to work with corporations to promote respect for human rights. This is also how I met Lisa, who opened the door to what would become my office for a few years, welcoming me with a “bienvenida” (“welcome”) in an unmistakable Argentine accent.”

As a result, she spent the next six-and-a-half years advising numerous corporate clients and NGOs on the full spectrum of human rights due diligence. In her previous position, she headed up the legal research team. She was responsible for overseeing the alignment of consulting products and services with relevant business and human rights laws and international standards and acted as the key point of contact for her clients and colleagues on relevant regulatory developments.

Fluent in Spanish, English and ItaIian and conversational in German, Cecilia holds a law degree (five-year program) from the University of the Basque Country in Spain, including a one-year exchange program at the University of Bologna, and an LLM in International and European Law from the University of Amsterdam.