Sara Cristina Fernandez Rivera

Sara is a lawyer, a graduate of the University of Zulia, and holds a degree in political science from Rafael Urdaneta University. She earned a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law from University College London (UCL), graduating with distinction. She was awarded the Chevening Scholarship from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Sara joined Rivera Fernández & Associates in 2014, where she heads the Public International Law and Human Rights departments. Her work has included participating in requests for the removal of data from INTERPOL’s Red Notice system and leading audits of criminal cases. She has also advised and represented clients in compliance processes related to international sanctions and has litigated cases involving human rights violations and violence against women.

In addition to her work at Rivera Fernández & Associates, Sara has served as a visiting scholar at the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. She also worked as a researcher for the Public International Law Pro Bono Project at University College London and completed an internship at the NGO Redress in London.

Sara holds diplomas in humanitarian law, international human rights law, and international refugee law. She was a professor at Rafael Urdaneta University, teaching International Criminal Law, and has given numerous lectures on the subject.

During her studies, she participated in international court mock trials, and in 2013 she received the award for best speaker from the Ibero-American Institute for Peace, Human Rights, and International Justice in The Hague. Sara is fluent in English and French.