It’s our great pleasure today to welcome Astrid Puentes Riaño as an IntLawGrrls contributor. Originally from Colombia, Astrid holds an LL.M. in Comparative Law from the University of Florida, a Masters in Environmental Law from the University of the Basque Country, and a J.D. from the University of Los Andes, Colombia.  Astrid is a Co-Executive Director of AIDA, the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense, responsible for the organization’s legal work in the Americas since 2003.  She has worked from AIDA’s office in Mexico City since 2004, overseeing the team’s attorneys and the development and implementation of legal strategies.

Astrid has significant experience with public interest litigation, especially in the field of human rights and the environment.  She is a highly regarded presenter and prolific author, providing critical legal analysis and strategic advice to communities, nations and international organizations.  Astrid taught a new seminar on human rights and the environment in Latin America at American University over the summer of 2014.

Astrid is active in the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide and sits on the international advisory board for International Rivers and EarthRights International. Her first post will discuss the need for consistency in Latin American climate change policies. Heartfelt welcome!