"Claudia is a tireless advocate for environmental law and sustainability in the Americas. Our collaborative efforts have always had an impact on the ground. She is passionate about helping the people of the region for a better future, is extremely competent and pursues her goals with great determination"
Arnold Kreilhuber
Director, Europe Office, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
International lawyer and political scientist from the Dominican Republic. Chief Executive and founder of The Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability (IIJS). International environmental law Professor in globally recognized faculties of law, judicial and prosecutorial academies and Adjunct Associate Professor at American University, Washington College of Law (Human Rights and the Environment). Member of the Steering Committee of the World Commission on Environmental Law of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the list of experts in environmental law and the resolution of disputes of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America. Provides expertise to high level international policy forums and to different entities and committees in the UN System. In 2021 was invited to join the Scotia Group a global network of prominent internationalists and leaders in law, politics, academia and business convened for the UNFCCC-COP process to drive impactful climate action through the rule of law. Affiliated to the Center of Constitutional Studies of the Supreme Court of Mexico. Distinguished by the Mexican Academy of Law as honorary member in 2022, in 2021 by the Dominican Bar Association in New York as “an extraordinary woman and international trailblazer” and in 2020 by The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) as Visiting Scholar. From 2015-2017, co-Chaired the Green Growth and the Law Working Group of The Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP). Served for almost two-decades at the Organization of American States (OAS) advising numerous political and negotiation processes on sustainable development and rights in the multilateral and hemispheric sphere and making significant contributions to environmental and social governance (ESG), law, enforcement, compliance and jurisprudence in Latin America and the Caribbean. Author of several books and expert publications. Graduate of Universidad Iberoamericana, UNIBE (Doctor in Law). Master's Degree (LLM) in International Legal Studies from the American University Law School. Certificate in Negotiations from the Harvard University School of Law.
Key Areas of Expertise: Environmental and social governance (ESG) sustainability, environmental rule of law, justice, public policy, UN and Interamerican System, human rights, trade, investment and environment, conflict resolution and sustainability diplomacy.
Skills: Regional leadership, strategic communication and planning, political processes. Negotiation, empathy, culture and diversity awareness.
Languages: Spanish and English (bilingual), French and Portuguese (basic-intermediate).
Languages: Spanish and English (bilingual), French and Portuguese (basic-intermediate).