Ligia Bolivar leads the Human Rights Center at André César Cáceres University in Venezuela, where she oversees various programs addressing the rights of refugees, migrant workers, and the fundamental freedoms of association, expression, and assembly. Given Venezuela’s conflict-ridden environment, Ligia’s work is crucial in defending students who often face attacks and detention by security forces.
Her centre not only focuses on monitoring, research, and advocacy but also places a strong emphasis on training a new generation of skilled human rights defenders across the country. This training has enabled more individuals in various cities to document cases and engage with international human rights organisations effectively. Ligia advocates for a more nuanced approach to addressing the unique challenges faced by different groups of defenders, such as women and those working in environmental and monetary areas. Her vision for the future includes seeing the expertise of local human rights defenders recognised and respected by a democratic government committed to addressing human rights violations.
