United States | Former Program Associate, Special Projects & External Relations, Inter-American Dialogue
Sofia Lalinde served as program associate for Special Projects & External Relations at the Inter-American Dialogue from 2019 to 2021. She helped manage various institutional initiatives, including the Linowitz Forum, CAF Conference, and Congressional Program, and the Dialogue’s work on gender issues. She graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with a BA in International Politics, focusing on foreign policy and processes.
Prior to joining the Dialogue, she interned in the Legislative Affairs Office of the Department of Treasury and at the Fabretto Foundation, an organization that serves to empower children and families in Nicaragua through education. Additionally, she has studied in France and Switzerland. While abroad, she interned at the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), an international NGO at the United Nations Headquarters.
She is fluent in English and Spanish and has working proficiency in French.
On July 8, 2021, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted a congressional staff briefing on China’s Covid-19 engagement with Latin America. Panelists discussed developments in Chinese diplomacy in the Latin American region, both before and amid the pandemic.
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As Colombia continues to witness a surge in protests and widespread violence in Cali, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted the event “Colombia in Turmoil” on May 20 to examine the root causes and ramifications of the ensuing unrest. This conversation explored how the lack of confidence in the state and political parties, the rise in poverty and unemployment due to the pandemic, and the despair and frustration of Colombia’s youth have culminated in the crisis facing Colombia today.
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On September 9, 10, and 11, 2020, over 6,000 participants from around the world convened virtually for the 24th Annual CAF Conference to discuss the most pressing issues facing the Western Hemisphere.
The intersection of domestic violence and migration in the Northern Triangle necessitates the protection of survivors seeking asylum. Biden’s stated commitments to gender-based issues and promises made on immigration reform prior to the election call on the administration to immediately restore asylum protections for domestic violence survivors.
Although progress has been made in the fight to decriminalize abortion, limited access to the procedure remains a human rights issue, a public health crisis, and a problem for democracy.
The Dialogue’s pioneering work has made significant contributions to the advancement of women in leadership, the promotion of reproductive rights and health, and the reduction of violence against women. However, these issues remain extant in the region, emphasizing the need to continue conducting research and analysis in each of these key areas of concern to women and crucial to the health of the region’s democracies.
Las acciones de Trump buscaron ampliamente socavar y eliminar los derechos LGBTQ+. Su prioridad fue ampliar las libertades y protecciones religiosas a expensas de la comunidad y la discriminación codificada contra grupos marginados... Aunque [con Biden] hay muchas razones para el optimismo, todavía queda mucho por hacer. Biden no solo tiene que revertir el daño hecho, sino también mirar hacia el futuro y promover políticas para mejorar las vidas de los estadounidenses LGBTQ+.
[Biden] tiene una agenda ambiciosa [para proteger a la comunidad LGBTQ+] de la discriminación y la violencia, [y para] ampliar su acceso a la salud, garantizar un trato justo en el sistema penal y promover las libertades civiles en el escenario mundial. Las organizaciones de derechos humanos y los grupos de defensa responsabilizarán a Biden por las promesas hechas porque la lucha por los derechos seguirá siendo una batalla difícil.
