Experts and activists from across Latin America convened at American University Washington College of Law on October 30 and 31, 2025, for the 4th Discussion Roundtable on Strategic Litigation on Gender-Based Violence in Latin America. Hosted by AUWCL’s Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the War Crimes Research Office, the event brought together members of the Latin American Network for Gender-based Strategic Litigation (ReLeG) to strengthen legal strategies against gender-based violence, with a focus on emerging challenges such as violence in digital spaces and the gendered impacts of organized crime.

The roundtable, co-hosted by ReLeG co-founders Professors Claudia Martin and Susana SáCouto, reaffirmed the network’s commitment to turning legal principles into tangible justice and advancing gender equality. This year’s panel emphasized ReLeG’s role in monitoring and promoting strategic litigation on gender issues, integrating gender perspectives into legal education, and supporting public policy and legislative reforms that ensure equal access to justice.

Through various panels and discussions, participants shared best practices and fostered regional collaboration on emerging issues, including gendered violence in contexts of migration and social protests in the region.

Professor Claudia Martin presented the findings of a report on the implementation of reparations in the Inter-American Human Rights System.

“Our fourth roundtable reinforced the vital role of the Latin American Network for Gender-based Strategic Litigation in translating legal principles into tangible justice,” Martin said. “My presentation on the implementation of reparations in the Inter-American Human Rights System shows that judicial victories must be followed by robust mechanisms to ensure survivors receive comprehensive and meaningful repair."

Professor Susana SaCouto moderated a panel on gender-based violence and international crimes in Latin America. “When past crimes go unpunished, they often lead to new violence, which can manifest in different forms and involve both long-standing and newer groups. The evolving landscape of gender-based violence demands that our strategic litigation adapt to new realities,” SaCouto said. “The collaboration fostered by ReLeG is essential to sharing best practices and developing the innovative legal strategies needed to address these complex, regional challenges."

Key personnel for the event's implementation included Dalila Seoane, Silvia Scozia, Sabrina Frydman, Adriana Buenaventura Martinez, and Carmen Ponce Moreda. Support was provided by the ACTUEMOS initiative of UN Women and the European Union, which seeks to strengthen women’s participation in global and regional spaces and foster transformative feminist action to eliminate violence against women.

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