Carmen Beatriz Ruiz
Bolivian specialist in social communications, human rights, women's rights and cultural diversity. For over 25 years, Ms. Ruiz has led innovative human rights promotion initiatives, as director of women's organizations, a community radio station, and social communications departments in, among others, the ministries responsible for gender affairs and for education.
Presently, Ms. Ruiz is an independent consultant in communications, project and program planning, monitoring and evaluation. She is associated with the Just Governance Group and with the Instituto para el Desarrollo Rural de Sudamérica (IPRD). From 2004 – 2007, she was the Executive Director of a consortium, sponsored by a coalition of non-governmental organizations, to promote the participation of indigenous and peasant groups in Bolivia's constitutional reform process. She is the editor of a monthly journal on democracy and human rights and also produces regular television and radio programs that promote inter-cultural dialogue.
Former Deputy Ombudsman of Bolivia between 1998 and 2003, Ms. Ruiz led the institution as acting Ombudsman during the country's period of political upheaval in 2003. As deputy in charge of human rights promotion and analysis, Ms. Ruiz designed and implemented national public education campaigns, human rights training for public officials, and social monitoring programs in partnership with organizations representing vulnerable groups in Bolivia.
