Our Mission

NIKA’s mission is to fight for human rights protection, strengthen democracy, and advance environmental and intergenerational justice in Latin America and beyond through applied research, international legal practice and consultancy, and trans-regional collaboration and learning.

Our Vision

We envision a world where present and future generations are free from the threats of environmental catastrophe, can flourish under democratic institutions governed by the rule of law, are empowered by legal knoweldge and understanding, and have their individual and collective human rights respected and guaranteed. We imagine an international legal system of protection where domestic, regional, and international legal frameworks are mutually reinforcing, harmonized, and capable of effectively addressing intergenerational and systemic threats, preventing the tipping points that would spell humanity’s doom. Finally, we envision an international legal space shaped by inclusion, cross-regional collaboration, and progressive rights-based standards, based on democratic principles and accessible to all.

Overall, we dream of a better world “For the Future”.

Who we are

We are an association of international lawyers and human rights defenders fighting to create a bright future in Latin America and beyond with a steadfast belief in the capacity of international human rights law to address systemic and intergenerational challenges, including democratic backsliding and the environmental crises.

Practice Areas

The Rule of Law and Democratic Decline
Environmental Protection and Climate Change
Intergenerational Justice and Rights of Future Generations

Our Pillars

We conduct research projects that aim to develop the law and enhance our understanding of international legal standards to facilitate compliance therewith, with a focus on how the law can be used in practice to advance human rights.
We advocate before national, regional, and international bodies and authorities to ensure the respect and progression of human rights standards and provide expert legal advice in international law and human rights.
We strive to raise awareness and provide education and training on international law and human rights to human rights defenders with a focus on bridging the gap between national and international legal practice and fostering a transregional dialogue intended. The objective is to create a harmonized international system of effective human rights protection that incorporates legal theory and practice from different regions of the world, thus fostering inclusion and visibility, empowers individuals with legal knowledge and democratises international law, providing opportunities to law students and young professionals with a passion for human rights to build a strong community of human rights lawyers and advocates that can challenge the status quo and meaningfully shape the future of the people and the planet.