Central America Regional Office

Ramón Cadena Rámila – Regional Director

Ramón is a Guatemalan lawyer with more than twenty-five years of experience as human rights advocate. Before joining the ICJ, Ramón Cadena Rámila held different position with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. His duties focused on human rights training, protection of refugees and displaced populations and human rights advisory functions. Ramón Cadena teaches international law at the Human Rights Institute of the San Carlos University and coordinated the MA Human Rights studies of Rafael Landívar University. He was the coordinator of a dialogue on human rights, justice and security in Guatemala sponsored by the OAS and the UN. He has also been a consultant at his country’s Human Rights Ombudsman and the Office of the Prosecutor.

Jessica Vásquez – Consultant

Jessica joined the ICJ as the Legal Advisor on Economic, Social and Cultural (ESCR) Rights in May 2012. She studied law at the Central American “José Simeón Cañas” University, El Salvador. Before joining the ICJ, she worked in Salvadorian human rights organizations as Legal Advisor on ESCR and migrants rights. She coordinated an International Litigation Unit in El Salvador filling petitions before international human rights protection systems.
 

Iris Elena Portillo Aragón – Consultant

Iris awarded a scholarship to study an LL. M in International Human Rights Law, at the University of Notre Dame USA in 2010-2011; she obtained a degree in Law (with honors) as well as a Notary Public, from the University of San Carlos, Guatemala. During her studies, she worked as a research assistant both at the University of San Carlos Research Center and at he Human Rights Office of the Archbishop of Guatemala. In June 2012 she joined the ICJ Central America as legal adviser in the themes of independence of the judiciary and fight against impunity.
 

Myrna joined the ICJ in 2008. She has accompanied the growing process of the ICJ Central America. She is ending her university studies in legislation at the University Of San Carlos Of Guatemala. Myrna interned at the state court of justice for children and adolescents in conflict with the law Guatemalan.

Francisca Sanchez Labriel – Consultant

Teacher in Education Primari Urban, she has a diplome in strategic litigation for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Currently she is finishing her studies in Social and Legal Sciencies Lawyer and Notary. At the ICJ, she is a Legal Assistant.
 
Rosario Alvarado de Monzón – Finance Officer

Rosario joined the ICJ in September 2014, after more than 15 years of work with DANIDA’s Human Rights Programmes for Central America as Administration and Finance Officer. She has also worked for UNCHR and UNESCO, among other UN agencies. She has a degree in Business Administration, post-graduate studies in Conflict Resolution and is a Sworn translator (Spanish/English-English/Spanish).