Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice

06/04/2026

🔊DECLARACIÓN DEL CITY BAR🔊
Declaración del Colegio de Abogados expresando preocupaciones sobre represalias y ataques contra juzgadores en Latinoamérica⚖️

El Vance Center contribuyó a una declaración del New York City Bar Association en la que se expresa una gran preocupación por una alarmante ola de ataques a la independencia judicial en América Latina.

Entre ellos se incluyen casos de represalias disciplinarias, procesos penales contra jueces por el contenido de sus sentencias, campañas públicas de desprestigio basadas en acusaciones falsas y, en los casos más extremos, violencia física mortal.

🇵🇪 En Perú, el juez Oswaldo Ordóñez Alcántara fue removido de su cargo en lo que parece una represalia por haber ejercido su derecho a la libertad de expresión y haber expresado su punto de vista sobre la independencia judicial en un foro público.
🇲🇽 En México, el Tribunal de Disciplina Judicial, órgano creado por la reforma judicial de 2024, encargado de investigar y sancionar las faltas administrativas de los jueces, ha actuado con inusual rapidez al suspender y sancionar a varios jueces.
🇧🇴 🇪🇨 Y en los casos más graves, jueces de Bolivia y Ecuador fueron víctimas de atentados que terminaron con sus vidas.

Aunque estos ataques son distintos en alcance y naturaleza, y ocurrieron en diversos países, la declaración señala la preocupación del Colegio de Abogados de la Ciudad de Nueva York de que el patrón general de violencia y amenazas contra los jueces pueda normalizarse, fomentando un clima de intimidación que debilita el estado de derecho en Latinoamérica.🌎

El Colegio de Abogados de la Ciudad de Nueva York urge a las autoridades de la región, en particular de México, Perú, Bolivia y Ecuador, a reafirmar su compromiso con el estado de derecho garantizando la protección y la autonomía de sus jueces y juezas.

El Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Independencia de Abogados y Jueces del Colegio de Abogados de la Ciudad de Nueva York también se sumó a la declaración.
👉 Lea la declaración completa: https://www.nycbar.org/reports/declaracion-expresando-preocupaciones-sobre-represalias-y-ataques-contra-juzgadores-en-latinoamerica/

06/04/2026

🔊CITY BAR STATEMENT🔊
Statement Expressing Concerns Over Reprisals and Attacks Against Latin American Judges ⚖️

The Vance Center contributed to a New York City Bar Association statement expressing deep concern about a troubling pattern of attacks on in Latin America.

These have included incidents of disciplinary reprisals, criminal proceedings against judges for the content of their rulings, public smear campaigns based on false accusations, and in the most extreme cases, deadly physical violence.

🇵🇪 In Peru, Judge Oswaldo Ordóñez Alcántara was removed from his post in apparent retaliation for exercising his right to free expression and providing his perspective on judicial independence in a public forum.
🇲🇽 In Mexico, a new oversight body created through the 2024 national judicial reform that is responsible for investigating and sanctioning administrative misconduct by judges has acted unusually quickly to suspend and sanction multiple judges.
🇧🇴 🇪🇨 And in the most deadly cases, judges in Bolivia and Ecuador were killed in targeted assassinations.

Although these attacks are different in scope and severity, and occurred in a range of countries, the statement notes the City Bar’s concern that the broader pattern of violence and threats against judges may become normalized, fostering a climate of intimidation that undermines the rule of law in Latin America.🌎

The City Bar urges authorities in the region, particularly in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, to reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law by ensuring the protection and autonomy of their judges.

The City Bar’s Task Force on the Independence of Lawyers and Judges also signed on to the statement.
👉Read the full statement: https://www.nycbar.org/reports/statement-expressing-concerns-over-reprisals-and-attacks-against-latin-american-judges/

06/01/2026

🎤Conversamos con el presidente saliente de la Federación Latinoamericana de Magistrados - FLAM, Marcello Gallo Tagle, el día en que la organización eligió a su sucesor para este cargo.

Marcelo nos compartió unas reflexiones sobre el trabajo conjunto y lo que viene para juezas y jueces en la región.⚖️

🤝¡Gracias, Marcelo, por su firme compromiso con la defensa de la independencia judicial en América Latina! Nos alegra seguir acompañando a la FLAM y a sus 18 asociaciones judiciales en esta próxima etapa.

05/12/2026

🚨Tomorrow is the last day to respond to our 2026 Pro Bono Survey with Latin Lawyer🚨

Law firms across Latin America are encouraged to participate. The annual survey helps us track how pro bono practice is evolving across the region and identify opportunities and areas for improvement. The responses also help us select our annual list of Leading Lights firms.🌟📊

We want to hear from you! Don't miss your chance to help us understand the current state of in Latin America, look ahead to where it's going next, and identify the leaders that are going to help us get there.✅

🗓️ Deadline (extended): May 13 🗓️

🔗Respond to the survey here: bit.ly/2026-Pro-Bono-Survey

05/11/2026

¿Trabajas en una organización de la sociedad civil en Guatemala? No te pierdas esta charla virtual sobre cómo el apoyo legal pro bono puede ayudar a tu organización a cumplir con los requisitos de registro y proteger sus operaciones.

🤝 Junto con el Directorio Guatemala y la Asociación Pro Bono de Guatemala, hablaremos de cómo acceder a este apoyo esencial para que quienes están en primera línea puedan seguir atendiendo las necesidades de sus comunidades.

📅 13 de mayo
🕙 10:00am hora de Guatemala / 12:00pm hora de NY

👉 Regístrate aquí: https://directorioguatemala.org/es/event/herramientas-legales-y-est%C3%A1ndares-internacionales-para-osc-en-guatemala

¿Cómo fortalecer la protección legal y el cumplimiento de tu organización?

Te invitamos a este espacio para conocer herramientas legales y estándares internacionales dirigidos a organizaciones de sociedad civil en Guatemala. Aprende sobre las opciones pro bono disponibles y cómo estas pueden ayudar a fortalecer la sostenibilidad, protección y continuidad de tu misión institucional.

🗓️ 13 de mayo
⏰ 10:00 a.m.

Con la participación de Pedro Villegas de Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice y Claudia Murga de Asociación ProBono Guatemala.

🔗 Inscríbete aquí:
https://directorioguatemala.org/es/event/herramientas-legales-y-est%C3%A1ndares-internacionales-para-osc-en-guatemala

05/08/2026

🌎Our Environment Program recently supported the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a healthy environment in her amicus brief submission on States’ climate obligations before the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.

We helped develop legal arguments presented in the brief, which addresses key obligations for the Court to consider, including:
▶️ Differentiating responsibilities based on States’ development needs and historical greenhouse gas emissions,
▶️ Regulating and monitoring the activities of private companies, and
▶️ Protecting present and future generations, with stronger protections for marginalized communities and environmental human rights defenders.

🌱 The brief also emphasizes States’ obligations to respect and uphold the human right to a healthy environment, a core focus of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate, which we are proud to support through our Environment Program.

⚖️ This is the first time the ACtHPR has directly considered States’ human rights obligations in the context of climate change, marking its pending decision as an important addition to the growing body of global frameworks clarifying these responsibilities.

The brief was filed as part of a request by the Pan African Lawyers Union - PALU for an advisory opinion on States’ climate obligations.

🤝 We are honored to work closely with the Special Rapporteur in her mandate and look forward to the Court’s decision. For more on the submission, visit: https://www.vancecenter.org/vance-center-supports-amicus-brief-submission-in-crucial-climate-case-before-african-regional-court/

05/06/2026

Three of our Vance Center attorneys were supposed to be at RightsCon in Lusaka this week.

We had a session on the agenda: a roundtable focused on legal and practical safeguards against government surveillance of civil society organizations.

Like hundreds of our fellow attendees, we were looking forward to this historic RightsCon and the opportunity to connect with clients, colleagues, partners, and friends, especially our contacts in sub-Saharan Africa. And like thousands of others across the world, we were disappointed and alarmed by the Zambian government's last-minute decision to effectively cancel this important global event.

The New York City Bar Association stands in solidarity with Access Now and the RightsCon organizing team, the thousands of participants whose work was disrupted, and the civil society community that this forum exists to serve.

The cancellation is especially striking in the context of our scheduled session, which was to explore legal and practical safeguards against surveillance.

Unchecked government surveillance is among the most significant contemporary threats to civil society, freedom of expression, and the rule of law. It chills dissent, limits advocacy, and enables the targeting of human rights defenders, journalists, and lawyers.

Shrinking civic space, government interference in civil society gatherings, and limitations on participation are not arguments against these events; they are the very reasons events like RightsCon exist and why they must be protected.

Read the full statement from the New York City Bar Association ➡️ https://www.nycbar.org/press-releases/on-the-cancellation-of-rightscon-2026-by-the-zambian-government/

05/01/2026

🌎We're hiring a Staff Attorney/Program Advisor to join our Environment Program!

📰 THE ROLE
The Staff Attorney/Program Advisor will play a key role in supporting and strengthening the Vance Center's global environmental work. This position will engage directly on pro bono projects with clients and law firms, and will contribute to our efforts to promote and protect environmental and human rights.

Responsibilities include:
➡️Assisting in coordinating and managing pro bono projects
➡️Conducting legal research and analysis
➡️Outreach to new clients; building and maintaining relationships and consistent communication with existing partners and pro bono law firms
➡️Monitoring relevant legal developments at national and regional levels
➡️Contributing to crafting materials for grant makers and publication on the program’s activities, cases, and current events
➡️Planning, facilitating, and participating in events with the Vance Center's network
➡️Other tasks and additional responsibilities as needed

What we're looking for:
✔️Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, including legal work in or related to international environmental law, and knowledge of international and regional legal systems, international and regional human rights mechanisms, and civil society actors.
✔️J.D. or LLM from a U.S. law school or equivalent degree from a non-U.S. law school. ➕Specialization in International Environmental Law or Public International Law is a plus.
✔️Admission to practice law in any U.S. state or another jurisdiction.
✔️Written and oral fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French is a plus.

This is a hybrid position, with 3 days in our Midtown Manhattan office. Candidates must have authorization to work in the U.S.

Find more info and apply here 👉https://newyorkcitybarassociation.applytojob.com/apply/HtJoHk2iUo/Staff-AttorneyProgram-Advisor-Environment-Program

05/01/2026

🌎 Over the last few days, we’ve been spotlighting a few of the ways our legal support strengthens access to justice for civil society.

Tomorrow marks the start of our new fiscal year, and we hope you’ll help us start it off strong by donating today. Your support will be put to immediate use, helping us continue to deliver pro bono legal services to human and environmental rights organizations, independent media and judges, and other clients from all corners of the world.

🤝 Join us in advancing justice today: vancecenter.org/donate

04/29/2026

⚖️ La independencia judicial es un pilar esencial de la democracia. Es un requisito fundamental para garantizar el acceso a la justicia y la protección de los derechos humanos.

Durante muchos años, el Vance Center ha trabajado de cerca con jueces y juezas que enfrentan ataques a su integridad.

🎙️Nuestra clienta Emilia Molina, presidenta de la Asociación Mexicana de Juzgadoras, visitó nuestra oficina para conversar sobre algunas de las principales consecuencias de la reforma judicial en México.

A medida que jueces y juezas en toda América Latina enfrentan crecientes amenazas a su independencia, necesitan nuestro apoyo más que nunca.

👉 Ayúdanos a sostener nuestros esfuerzos para proteger la independencia judicial en: http://www.vancecenter.org/donate/