International Human Rights Lawyering: Rewards and Challenges

Are you interested in a career in international human rights but wondering what it looks like in today’s challenging global context? Join Wasserstein Fellow Angelita Baeyens, VP for International Advocacy and Litigation at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, as she reflects on the rewarding and often challenging realities of being an international human rights lawyer. Angelita will discuss how to navigate complexities, how to think about impact, what legal tools are effective in the current political climate, and how to build a sustainable career in this practice area.

Lunch provided. Please RSVP below! Open to the HLS community.

If you or an event participant requires disability-related accommodations, please contact HLS Accessibility Services at accessibility@law.harvard.edu two weeks in advance of the event.

Angelita Baeyens is an international human rights lawyer, advocate, and educator with extensive experience in litigation, policy advocacy, and political affairs. As Vice President for International Advocacy & Litigation at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, she leads high-impact cases before regional human rights mechanisms and the United Nations, advocating for justice in landmark cases involving human rights defenders, journalists, and marginalized communities. She has played a key role in advancing accountability through targeted sanctions, legal reform, and strategic engagement with governments and international bodies. Previously, Angelita worked as a Political Affairs Officer at the United Nations, where she monitored political developments in the Americas, and held diverse roles at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, where she helped shape policies to protect human rights defenders. A passionate educator, she is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law and has lectured globally on international human rights law. She holds an LL.M. from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the University of Ibague. She is fluent in Spanish, French, and English.