Luz Maria Utrera
About Luz Maria Utrera
Luz Maria Utrera serves as the President of the Luz Maria Foundation Inc. and has held various roles at the United Nations, focusing on women's empowerment and gender equality since 2015.
Work at LUZ MARIA FOUNDATION INC
Luz Maria Utrera serves as the President of LUZ MARIA FOUNDATION INC since 2012. Under her leadership, the foundation has engaged in various initiatives aimed at addressing women's rights and empowerment. The foundation has also received Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), enhancing its ability to influence policy and advocate for women's issues on a global scale. Utrera has organized campaigns such as #HerStory and #BreakTheGlass, which focus on raising awareness about women's experiences and challenges.
Current Roles at the United Nations
Luz Maria Utrera has held multiple roles at the United Nations since 2015. She is a UN Women Empower Women Global Champion for Change, a position she has maintained for eight years. Additionally, she is a member of the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development Working Group on Youth & Gender Equality and part of The World We Want Policy Strategy Group. In these roles, Utrera has contributed to discussions and initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and youth development.
Education and Expertise
Luz Maria Utrera has an extensive educational background in law and human rights. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Law from Universidad del Salvador in Argentina. Utrera furthered her education with specialized courses in International Law of Human Rights at Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero and Universidad de Buenos Aires. She also completed a seminar on Domestic Violence and the Law at Columbia Law School and attended the Women Campaign School at Yale University. Her studies in English as a Second Language were conducted at California International University and Hollywood High School.
Professional Background
Before her current roles, Luz Maria Utrera worked as a Legal Adviser at Centro Cultural del Bicentenario de Santiago del Estero from 2011 to 2014. She also briefly worked at Prototypes, focusing on domestic violence courses in 2009. Utrera has a background as a licensed attorney in Argentina and has served as a lawyer for an NGO dealing with domestic violence. Her professional experiences have shaped her commitment to advocating for women's rights and addressing issues related to gender-based violence.
Achievements and Recognition
Luz Maria Utrera has received recognition for her contributions to women's rights and community innovation. She was honored as a Global Community Innovator at Battery Garden and recognized as a Power Woman in Business at the Hilton Hotel. Utrera was selected from 5,000 applicants to serve as a UN Women Champion for Change, highlighting her influence and dedication to promoting gender equality. She has also been invited to speak at various conferences and events, sharing her expertise on domestic violence and women's participation in human rights.