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Victor Madrigal-Borloz

Lecturer on Law

Spring 2027

Victor Madrigal-Borloz
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Victor Madrigal-Borloz convenes the Global SOGIESC Climate Alliance, a multi-year initiative connecting SOGIESC rights and climate governance, and serves as a Trustee of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, appointed by the Secretary-General.

He served as the United Nations Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity from 2018 to 2023, a mandate under UN Special Procedures. In that capacity he authored twelve official UN thematic reports and eight country reports, led investigations into more than 200 individual cases, and undertook more than fifty country visits. He chaired the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures Coordination Committee (2019–2023) and served as a member of the UN Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture (2013–2016).

He is a Lecturer in Law at Harvard Law School, where he also served as Eleanor Roosevelt Senior Visiting Researcher from 2019 to 2025. His work at Harvard spans supervision of graduate research — including an LLM dissertation on non-discrimination and gender expression in the inter-American human rights system — publication in the Harvard Human Rights Journal, and recurring presentations at Harvard Law School, Harvard Divinity School, and the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School.

He is also a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, and has served as Keynote Speaker for the GIC+ Project Summer Programme at Oxford University. Earlier in his career, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Foro Latinoamericano Law Review.

His broader career includes service as Secretary-General of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (2013–2019) and as Head of the LGBTI Unit, Registry, and Litigation at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. He sits on the boards of Rainbow Railroad and the Koppa Economic Lab.

Madrigal-Borloz’s scholarship and mandate work are widely cited across international human rights law, and he has received the Kaleidoscope Trust’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Human Rights Campaign’s Global Equality Award. He holds an MA in Law from the University of Costa Rica and a Diploma in International Human Rights Law from the International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg.

Additional Info

Expert testimony to Parliaments

  • Comments to the Chair of the EHRC in Great Britain (UN; 2023)

  • Comments on Scottish Legislation (UN; OL GBR 15/2022)

  • Legislation in Ghana (UN; OL/GHA 3/2021)

  • Draft by-laws in Kazakhstan (UN; OL KAZ 5/2018)

  • Administrative decisions in the Republic of Korea (UN; OL KOR 1/2018)

Thematic Reports

  • SOGI in the Global Climate Change Architecture (Williams Institute UCLA; 2025)

  • Colonialism (UN; A/78/227; 2023)

  • Thought, conscience and religion or belief (UN; A/HRC/53/37; 2023)

  • Peace and Security (UN; A/77/235; 2022)

  • Right to health and SDG 3 (UN; A/HRC/50/27; 2022)

  • Practices of Exclusion (UN; A/76/152; 2021)

  • The law of Inclusion (UN; A/HRC/47/27; 2021)

  • COVID-19 (UN; A/75/258; 2020)

  • "Conversion therapy" practices (UN; A/HRC/44/53; 2020)

  • Social inclusion (UN; A/74/181; 2019)

  • Data collection and management (UN; A/HRC/41/45; 2019)

  • Legal recognition and depathologization (UN; A/73/152; 2018)

  • A vision for the UN IE SOGI mandate (UN; A/HRC/38/43; 2018)

Country Reports — Official

  • United Kingdom (UN; A/HRC/56/49/Add.1; 2024)

  • Cambodia (UN; A/HRC/56/49/Add.2; 2024)

  • United States of America (UN; A/HRC/56/49/Add.3; 2024)

  • Tunisia (UN; A/HRC/50/27/Add.1; 2022)

  • Ukraine (UN; A/HRC/44/53/Add.1; 2020)

  • Mozambique (UN; A/HRC/41/45/Add.2; 2019)

  • Georgia (UN; A/HRC/41/45/Add.1; 2019)

Education

  • Diploma in International Human Rights Law International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg, 1997
  • MA in Law University of Costa Rica, 1995

Academic Appointment and Employment History

  • Convenor and President, Global SOGIESC Climate Alliance (2024 - Present)
    Creates and delivers the Alliance in a role spanning movement-building, representation, research, fact-finding and advocacy through a fully funded six-year global workplan with measurable commitments. Builds a credible, participative global SOGIESC climate alliance supporting decentralized action in mainstream climate governance. Creates consistent narratives and pathways around SOGIESC considerations in climate policy at global, national, and local levels. Establishes a legal advocacy network to support LGBTIQ+ climate litigation and rights-based policy reform. Strengthens the evidence base, visibility, and agency of SOGIESC populations through consolidated research and community-generated data. Accelerates engagement of LGBTIQ+ communities in the climate ecosystem through targeted learning and capacity building. Connects LGBTIQ+ movement activities with existing and new streams of climate funding and finance.
  • Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, United Nations Special Procedures (2018 - 2023)
    Created and delivered the strategic foundation of the mandate in a role spanning representation, research, fact-finding and advocacy through a fully funded six-year global workplan with measurable commitments. Engaged in sustained diplomatic dialogue with States, UN and regional bodies, and broad bilateral and collective exchanges with non-State actors. Undertook 50+ country visits, including eight official missions leading to comprehensive State recommendations, and promotional and advisory visits to Copenhagen, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, Thailand, Saint Lucia, and a working visit to Iceland (Reykjavik, September 2019). Authored 12 official UN reports, 20+ policy statements, eight country reports, and discussed findings before General Assembly, Security Council Members (Arria Formula), Human Rights Council, academic fora, and national parliaments. Led investigation of 200+ individual cases, engaging States through 136 individual and collective communications. Convened global consultations, including joint UNHCR and UN Youth Envoy initiatives, with active participation of hundreds of stakeholders. Maintained broad outreach through an intensive dissemination programme including keynote speeches, press engagement, and social media.
    Geneva and New York
  • Secretary-General, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (2013 - 2019)
    Led the secretariat as Chief Executive Officer and supported the Executive Committee, the International Council, and the General Assembly. Implemented flagship global initiatives including data against impunity, anti-torture global awareness campaigns, and scientific collaboration platforms. Shaped standards for torture rehabilitation and institutional policy. Invigorated a 177-member network through advice, conflict mediation, and €2M+ in sub-grants to rehabilitation centers worldwide. Secured €3–5M annually, managed Secretariat operations and staff, ensured transparent financial management.
    Copenhagen
  • Head of Registry, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (2007 - 2013)
    Established and managed the Registry Team, cutting petition delays. Led development of the Commission's Document Management System. Advised on institutional reform, including the first Strategic Plan. Represented the Commission before the OAS political bodies.
    Washington
  • Head of the LGTBI Unit, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (2011 - 2013)
    Drafted the Commission's Plan of Action 4.6.i and managed its initial team. Delivered the Commission's LGTBI research agenda. Identified and managed 100+ cases concerning LGTBI issues. Led country fact-finding on LGTBI issues. Coordinated dialogue between State, academe and civil society. Paved the way for the first LGTBI Rapporteurship.
    Washington
  • Head of Litigation, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (2005 - 2007)
    Established and managed the Litigation Team. Directed litigation strategy and supervised quality of all Court submissions. Represented the Commission in Court-related matters. Designed protocols to strengthen docket management.
    Washington
  • Head of Access to Justice, Danish Institute for Human Rights (1999 - 2004)
    Established and managed the Team and drafted its protocols and procedures. Developed and executed strategy for the portfolio of State partnerships. Advised the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2001–2003), the Supreme Court of Mozambique (2002–2004), the Court of Appeals of Tanzania (2003–2004) on institutional reform, and civil society in Niger (2003). Managed the DIHR’s portfolio in relation to Access to Justice, encompassing programs in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
    Copenhagen
  • Head of Legal Department, Inter-American Court of Human Rights (1998 - 1999)
    Managed the Legal Department, distributed workload, evaluated performance, problem solved. Supervised technical quality of all drafts to be submitted to the Court. Managed a portfolio of complex Cases and Advisory Opinions.
    San Jose
  • Legal Officer, Inter-American Court of Human Rights (1995 - 1997)
    Managed a portfolio of cases, concerning torture, forceful disappearance and extrajudicial executions. Supervised technical quality of the work produced by junior lawyers and legal assistants.
    San Jose

Board Memberships

  • Board Member, Koppa Economic Lab (2025 - Present)
    New York
  • Board Member, Rainbow Railroad (2025 - Present)
    Toronto
  • Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Williams Institute, UCLA (2024 - Present)
    Los Angeles
  • Founding Board Member, Synergia Initiatives for Human Rights (2017 - 2018)
    Washington, DC
  • Founding Board Member, IJRC (2010 - 2018)
    San Francisco
  • Founding Board Member, Costa Rican Association of International Law (1996 - 1999)
    San Jose

Honors and Awards

  • Global Equality Award (Awards)
    Human Rights Campaign (Washington, DC), 2023
  • Lifetime achievement award (Awards)
    Kaleidoscope Trust (London), 2023