Latam Conference 2023

Conference: The future of Democracy

Despite significant progress in recent years, the region continues to struggle to consolidate democratic governance. How then should the region focus on securing transparency, accountability, and the rule of law? The improvement the quality of political institutions, citizen participation, and protection of civil liberties are important factors in ensuring sustainable democracy.
*Spanish conference with translation

Dra. Maria Soledad Perez Tello

Lawyer and peruvian politician. Former congressman of the Republic and Minister of Justice and Human Rights. Doctorate in Law from the University of San Martín de Porres. She has a master’s degree in Constitutional Law from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. She has a diploma in Human Rights from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. Lawyer for the USMP.

Moderation:
Lucero Sobrino Huarcaya
Master of Public Policy candidate at Hertie School. Lawyer from the Universidad Andina del Cusco and founder of the Center for Political Research and Law in Peru. Involved in politics from a young age, she has been part of several leadership programs in Latin America.

Panel: Inmigration in Latin America: What’s Next?

Latin America is the third largest human displacement and migration crisis the world is facing at present. To address this urgent issue, attention and action from the international community is required. To understand the root causes of this crisis, to develop policies that protect the rights of migrants, and to promote social cohesion and solidarity among Americans, this panel will offer context and explore promising actions for the global community to support.

Sarah Meneses

Specialist in migration and forced displacement at the Department of Social Inclusion of the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity of the Organization of American States (OAS) from Peru. Lawyer from the University of San Martín de Porres specialized in international human rights law in the United States and the Netherlands.

Paulina Facchin Arp

Human Rights Activist from Venezuela. Former Executive Secretary of the NGO Haciendo Futuro, professor and lecturer specialist in public migration policies focused on regularization of migrants, processes for refugees and political asylum seekers in Peru. Lawyer from the Carabobo University, Venezuela and University of San Martin de Porres of Peru.

Moderation:
Aura Arbulú
Master of Public Policy at Hertie School. Lawyer by the Universidad de San Martin de Porres in Peru. Currently working as a Project Coordinator in the International Federation of Liberal Youth.

Panel: Human Rights: Key to Latin America’s Transformation

Latin America has undergone important social, economic and political changes in recent decades, but the region is still grappling with problems related to inequality, poverty, discrimination and authoritarianism, which must be tackled with a focus on the fulfillment and protection of human rights.

Laura Aguirre

Co-founder and CEO of Alharaca, an investigative and feminist media from El Salvador. Winner of the Latin American Investigative Journalism Price (COLPIN) in 2017 and of the IDEA 2017 prize on journalism and innovcation for a trans-media project on sexual and reproductive rights. She has a PhD in Sociology from the Freie Universität Berlin.

Juan Pappier

Americas acting deputy director at Human Rights Watch, where he works on several countries in the region. Consultant for Chile’s National Human Rights Institute and taught international human rights law in the Torcuato di Tella and San Martín universities, in Argentina. Lawyer from Torcuato di Tella University and LL.M. in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Juliana Cano

Social justice campaigner and researcher from Colombia. Current head of communications for Transparency International. Former Deputy Director of Campaigns for the Americas, led communications, activism, media, advocacy, and movement-building activities to advance human rights in the region. Experience in monitoring and documenting violations of human rights in the Philippines, Iraq, the Americas, and the Middle East and Africa.

Moderation:
Luis Barrueto
Master of public policy candidate at the Hertie School and member of the Centre for Fundamental Rights’ Student Advisory Board (2022 – 2023). He is cofounder of Visibles, an LGBT rights organization in Guatemala, and currently works at the LGBT Rights Program of Human Rights Watch.

Panel: International Politics – German Bundestag and Latam

The latest events in Europe and the world urge the German government to find new partners around the world. With recent visits of the German Chancellor and several ministers in the LATAM region, a new political focus exists in this world region from a German perspective.

Heike Engelhardt

Member of the 20th German Bundestag of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Part of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the German Bundestag with responsibility in Central – and South America address the issues of women’s rights , dealing with mental illness and international health policy.

Prof. Dr. Kai Wegrich

Dean of Faculty and Research and Professor of Public Administration and Public Policy at the Hertie School. Political scientist with held positions at Humboldt University in Berlin, Potsdam University, the RAND Corporation, and the London School of Economics. Co-editor of the book series on Executive Politics and Governance. Holds a PhD from Potsdam University.

Moderation:

Dr. Carlos Nupia

Scientific Collaborator at Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (IAI) Preußischer Kulturbesitz. Holds a PhD in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin (FUB); a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the National University of Colombia; and is a Social Communicator-Journalist from the Externado University of Colombia. Researcher in international scientific cooperation, international organizations.

Panel: The Future of German – Latam Diplomatic Relations

The diplomatic relations between Latin America and Germany have a long and complex history, which has evolved over time through various political, economic, and cultural factors. The two regions enjoy a strong and multifaceted diplomatic partnership based on
mutual respect and shared interests such as climate change and immigration.

H.E. Augusto Arzubiaga Scheuch

Ambassador of Peru in Germany. Career diplomat with more than 40 years of service. Bachelor in international Relations and Master in Diplomacy by the Diplomatic Academy of Peru. He has been professor of Diplomacy and Diplomatic Law. He served as Ambassador of Peru in Uruguay and as Permanent Representative of Peru to ALADI. During his career, he was posted to Spain, Chile and the United States. In Peru, he held high level positions in several Ministries. His last post was Director General of Sovereignty, Boundaries and Antarctic Affairs
(Maritime and Air).

H.E. Eugenia Gutiérrez Ruíz

Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Costa Rica to Germany. Career diplomat with more than 18 years of experience, serving both at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and abroad. Lawyer, with a master’s degree from LSE in Public International Law. Expert in Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, Migration, and protection of specific populations.

H.E. Magdalena Atria Barros

Ambassador of Chile to Germany. Lawyer with master’s degree in International Law with a focus on Investment, Trade and International Arbitration, Ruprecht Karls University, Santiago – Heidelberg. Former head of the Legal Department of the Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Investment Promotion Agency Invest-Chile, Santiago.

H.E. Roberto Jaguaribe Gomes de Mattos

Ambassador of Brazil to Germany. Career Diplomat with more than 40 years of service, worked in missions to the United Nations, and Brazil embassies. Hold high-level positions both abroad and former Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as in other federal agencies of the Brazilian Government. Former Ambassador of Brazil to the United Kingdom of Great Britain, China and Mongolia.

H.E. Francisco Quiroga

Ambassador of Mexico to Germany. Economist from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, and master’s in international economics and Development, and in Operations Management. He have experience in the Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Development and in the private sector as executive and collaborator of companies in the steel sector.

Moderation:

Luis Mejia

Academic Counsellor for graduate students at the Hertie School. Holds a Ph.D. in Governance from the Hertie School, an MSc in Political Economy from the University of Essex, and a BA in Political Science from the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM). Worked as policy analyst at the Mexican Federal Competition and Energy Regulatory Commissions, as well as the National Council for Evaluation of Social Development Policy (Coneval).

Moderation:
Ellen Mayorca,
MPP candidate at Hertie School, economist from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru with more than 6 years of working experience in the public, academic and private sectors. Worked as Executive Director and Specialist in the design and monitoring of public policies in the Ministry of Health in Peru.

Panel: The Role of NGO’s in LATAM

Enlightening and thought-provoking conference where distinguished participants and scholarships from three influential organizations—the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)—will come together to discuss the pressing challenges faced by Latin America and explore the education opportunities for young people trough NGO’S in LATAM.

Hussam Al Erhayel

Executive Director of the International Federation of Liberal Youth and former Jordan Projects Coordinator at the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation for Freedom. Through his ten years of work experience in Political Education and Civic Engagement, Erhayel designed, led, and executed several projects on Liberalism, Human Rights, Building Networks, and NGO management

Daniel Felipe Lopez

Master of Public Policy 2023 and DAAD-Colfuturo scholarship holder. Political Scientist from
Universidad del Rosario, Colombia. He has experience as a researcher in electoral and legislative issues and as a project professional in Transparency for Colombia.

Horacio Pezzelatto

Master of Public Policy 2023 and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung scholarship holder. Lawyer from the University of Buenos Aires and holds a postgraduate in Parliamentary Diplomacy from the Austral University. He has experience in the Public Sector of Argentina as a Chief of Staff in the Argentine Parliament and previously, a legal advisor of the Buenos Aires City Government.

Moderation:
Luciano Mejia,
Master of public policy candidate at the Hertie School. Philospher and professional in Languages and Cultural Studies from the Universidad de los Andes in
Bogota, Colombia. Worked as a teacher at the German School in Bogota for more than five years, before orienting his career-path towards a policy-oriented role.

Panel: Achieving Anti-Corruption

Corruption remains rampant in virtually all countries in Latin America, which has struggled to put an end to it, in large part due to the weakness of accountability and justice institutions. Moreover, the perception of stagnation in the fight against corruption goes accompanied by a sense of deepening abuse of power and inequality in the region. What are some of the ways to address this problem, central to the delivery of many other requirements for social transformation? This panel will explore several alternatives from specialist, practitioner, and academic perspectives.

Jorge Bermudez

Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile and member of the Organization of Latin American and Caribbean Supreme Audit Institutions (OLACEFS)’s Governing Board. Holds the chair of the Commission for the Fight against Transnational Corruption (CTCT) and the Working Group on Gender Equality and Non- Discrimination (GTG). He currently is President of the South American Supreme Audit Institutions.

Denisse Rodriguez

Policy Leader Fellow at the School of Transnational Governance (STG) – European University Institute. PhD candidate at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin – Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Hold a master’s in international development with a specialization in Politics and Governance.

Roberto Martínez B. Kukutschka

PhD candidate at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin and works as Research Coordinator for Transparency International. Governance and anti-corruption expert with over ten years of experience. Worked for the public sector in Mexico and has served as a consultant for several development agencies and European Commission and the Council of Europe.

Moderation:
Nicolas Soto
Lawyer and Master of Public Policy (MPP) Hertie School of Governance, external consultant European Center for European Research Centre for Anticorruption and State-building (ERCAS).