Human Rights Expert

Tamara Amoroso
Gonsalves

For twenty years, I've dedicated my career to human rights law and advocacy, specializing in women's rights and gender justice.
My work bridges academic research with practical impact, demonstrated through extensive publications and leadership roles across governmental and non-governmental sectors.

Three women speaking (Tamara in the middle) and taking notes at a conference panel, with a camera recording in the foreground. Tamara Gonsalves standing and smiling in a large assembly hall (UN) with nameplates and a decorative ceiling. Tamara speaking in a studio setup with cameras and a world map on the wall behind her. A group of women posing together in a well-lit room with plants. Tamara Gonsalves smiling while signing a book at a table with flowers and books.

About Me

My educational background in law, with a focus on human rights, and my experience in non-governmental, governmental, and academic roles have enabled me to excel in advocacy and stakeholder negotiation. As a spokesperson for various organizations, I have effectively engaged with diverse audiences, ranging from experts in international human rights bodies to grassroots communities, academics, and public servants. I have delivered talks and represented institutions on more than 90 occasions, both locally, regionally, and internationally, on topics spanning children's rights, women's rights (particularly gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive rights), and consumer rights.

Academic & Professional Background

I hold a bachelor's degree in Law, a master's in Human Rights, a PhD in Law and Society, and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. I bring extensive experience in human rights at national, regional, and international levels, with skills in policy analysis, advocacy on human rights issues, and delivering lectures on complex topics to diverse audiences, from policymakers and academics to grassroots organizations, ensuring complex issues are communicated effectively to drive impactful outcomes. Having lived and worked in various countries and being fluent in 4 languages (Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French), I am highly attuned to and respectful of socio-cultural diversities.

My career spans academia, non-profits, and government, including serving in Brazil's Ministry of Justice. Over the past 20 years, I have worked in Brazilian, Latin American, and Canadian contexts as a lawyer, gender and human rights expert, lecturer, public servant, and policy analyst. My expertise covers gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive rights, health law, ultra-processed food advertising regulation, consumer law, children's rights, and international human rights law. For further details on my academic and professional background, please refer to my CV.

Download Complete CV (PDF)

Books and publications

Publications

I am dedicated to producing high-quality, community-engaged research and scholarship that addresses pressing social issues. Over the past 20 years, I have developed interdisciplinary, transsystemic, and socio-legal research, resulting in 2 published books, 40 book chapters, 11 journal articles, 10 research and advocacy reports, and 36 opinion pieces. My publications span a broad range of topics, including children's fundamental rights, women's human rights—particularly gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive rights—and consumer rights, with a specific focus on product recalls, advertising regulations, and the regulation of ultra-processed foods.

Books

Cover of the book titled 'Direitos Humanos das Mulheres e a Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos'

My book Direitos Humanos das Mulheres e a Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos, (Saraiva, 2013) analyzes quantitative and qualitative data related to cases of women’s human rights violations presented to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, identifying the regional agenda that feminist organizations have pushed through gender-sensitive strategic litigation. This work combined statistical analysis and case analysis, in pioneering jurimetrics work done in Brazil.

Cover of the book titled 'Aborto e Religião nos Tribunais Brasileiros'
Aborto e Religião nos Tribunais Brasileiros

Tamara Amoroso Gonçalves (coord.), Thais de Souza Lapa

In this MacArthur-Foundation-funded book, Aborto e Religião nos Tribunais Brasileiros (2008), I discuss the influence of religious arguments in abortion cases decided by Brazilian courts—in a country where abortion is illegal and is the 5th cause of maternal death. This research was grounded on feminist scholarship, sociological analysis of Catholic religion, and statistical data on court decisions. This was a pioneering work combining socio-legal feminist research and jurimetrics, when the latter was rarely used in Brazil. Available in Portuguese only.

Download Full Text (PDF)

Other Projects

Logo of the Gender 305 Podcast
Gender 305 Podcast

Podcast series on Gender and Human Rights.

At UVIC's Gender Studies Department, I taught Gender and International Human Rights in fall 2022 and 2023, where students created podcast episodes as their final assignments with CFUV's technical support. These episodes, now being published and aired through CFUV, explore diverse topics including abortion rights, LGBTQ2+ and non-binary rights, gender-based discrimination in AI, and violence against Indigenous women in Canada. We invite you to listen and engage in these important conversations.

Listen and Subscribe (Spotify)

Public Speaking

My educational background in law, with a focus on human rights, and my experience in non-governmental, governmental, and academic roles have enabled me to excel in advocacy and stakeholder negotiation. As a spokesperson for various organizations, I have effectively engaged with diverse audiences, ranging from experts in international human rights bodies to grassroots communities, academics, and public servants. I have delivered talks and represented institutions on more than 90 occasions, both locally, regionally, and internationally, on topics spanning children's rights, women's rights (particularly gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive rights), and consumer rights.

Contact me for public speaking requests

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CLADEM/Brazil representation at Brazil's review before the CEDAW Committee

Speech delivered at the Opening Session with Brazilian Non-profit associations, addressing various forms of institutional violence such as obstetric violence, parental alienation in family court, inaccessible abortion services for sexual violence victims, child marriage, and forced pregnancies among adolescents.

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How to Use CEDAW's Recommendations in National Strategic Litigation

Panel discussing the strategic use of CEDAW's recommendations for domestic litigation in Brazil, emphasizing practical applications to advance women's rights.

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Debates on the Beginning of Life and Legal Regulations to Personhood

Exploration of feminist perspectives on the legal and ethical debates concerning the beginning of life and personhood, focusing on its implications for law and social policies.

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Interdisciplinary Community Engaged Academic Research

Presentation on applying interdisciplinary feminist research methodologies to engage communities and address systemic issues, highlighting academic and practical applications.

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Parental Alienation: A Form of Violence Against Women

Webinar addressing how the concept of parental alienation is used as a form of institutional violence against women, involving multi-stakeholder support and discussions in Portuguese and Spanish.

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Research Launch on Violence Against Girls and Adolescents

Research launch examining the link between sexual violence and the death of girls and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2010-2019, alongside best practices for addressing violence in this demographic.

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Gender and Human Rights

Seminar on gender equality and its intersection with human rights, discussing how gender analysis can inform policies and societal development frameworks.

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Gender Discussions Impact in Human Rights Concept

Presentation analyzing how gender discussions have influenced the conceptualization of human rights, with a focus on historical and contemporary developments in the field.

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Public Hearing on Advertising to Children

Public hearing at the Brazilian National Congress addressing the impact of child-targeted advertising, highlighting its manipulative and abusive practices, and advocating for regulatory measures.

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What I
can offer

Courses

  • Human Rights Systems: covers international human rights systems (global and regional ones), their functioning, key documents, and advocacy opportunities.
  • Gender and International Human Rights: offers an overview of the most relevant Human Rights Instruments that protect women and gender-diverse individual's rights.
  • Gender-based violence: discusses how the concept of gender-based violence has evolved, covering key concepts, legal standards, and public policies.
  • Transnational feminism and international advocacy: explores feminist transnational activism and its advancements and challenges.
  • Feminist Legal Theories: presents and discusses the main feminist threads and their socio-legal implications for advancing gender justice.

Courses can vary in length and depth, depending on your needs. They can also be tailored to specific audiences such as academics, government, and the general public..

Consultancy

My consultancy work focuses on policy analysis, advocacy, research, and capacity-building in human rights, with a particular emphasis on gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive rights, health law, and children's rights. Leveraging my academic foundation—a bachelor's in Law, a master's in Human Rights, a PhD in Law and Society, and a graduate certificate in teaching—I provide insightful, evidence-based solutions tailored to diverse contexts. Grounded on a deep commitment to advancing equity and justice, I can:

  • Develop strategies for advocacy;
  • Conduct training workshops;
  • Craft comprehensive legal and policy analyses.

Mentorship

I can support you with the following:

  • Applying for graduate studies;
  • Preparing academic proposals;
  • Developing academic work.

Advocacy Work

  • Elaboration of shadow reports to United Nations treaty bodies, and MESECVI (follow-up Mechanism of the Belém do Pará Convention - Organization of American Estates);
  • In-person advocacy - for more successful results;
  • Institutional representation in public hearings;
  • Articulation, preparation, and submission of Amicus Curiae both at the national and international levels;
  • Workshops for non-profit organizations and corporations;
  • Moderation of academic and institutional events.

Contact me

Let's talk! For inquiries or collaboration opportunities, reach out via email at [email] or connect with me on LinkedIn. I aim to respond within 48 hours.

Send me an email

Reach Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn