Juanita Goebertus Estrada has been selected as the new director of Human Rights Watch’s Americas division, Human Rights Watch said today. Goebertus, a talented and effective human rights champion throughout her career in government, academia, and civil society, will assume her position on August 1, 2022.
Goebertus, currently a congresswoman in Colombia, will not represent Human Rights Watch in any way or speak on the organization’s behalf until she starts in August.
Tamara Taraciuk, acting Americas director, will continue to run the division through July, after which she will become deputy director, a new Americas Division leadership position.
Human Rights Watch will take all necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition that strengthens the organization’s hard-earned reputation as a politically independent organization that carries out rigorous and impartial human rights investigations throughout the region.