Fátima is a civil society professional, human rights defender, and researcher with over fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector in Latin America. Her work has focused on human rights, democracy, sustainable development, community-based organising, and qualitative comparative data management. She currently serves as the Director of the Education Program at Cristosal, where she works to defend human rights and democracy in Central America through human rights education and the promotion of social organising.
Fátima’s professional experience also includes teaching in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador and at Escuela de Comunicación Mónica Herrera, where she currently serves as a part-time lecturer. Her teaching has focused on ethics, research methods, and sociology drawing from her extensive background in human rights defense, social justice advocacy, and community-based organising.
Throughout her career, Fátima has collaborated with intercultural, youth, and rural women’s groups across El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia. She also volunteers for International Partners in Mission (IPM), supporting IPM’s project partners, including women’s cooperatives and youth education programmes that address social issues such as gender equality and interfaith dialogue.
Fátima holds a master’s degree in Sociology from the State University of New York at Albany and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of El Salvador. She also holds a postgraduate diploma in Impact Research from Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA).
I am deeply inspired by the relentless struggle and resilience of those seeking justice amidst structural violence and human rights violations. The stories that fuel my passion include the tireless efforts of mothers searching for their disappeared loved ones and the courageous women fighting for the release of innocent family members wrongfully detained in El Salvador.Fátima Pacas