CHARLES PONTES GOMES
Rio de Janeiro,Brazil
Summary
International law expert with over 15 years of experience in refugee and asylum law, legal research, and protection program design. Placed under Roster for UNHCR Legal Protection Officer P3 positions. Extensive background in analyzing legal frameworks, mapping rights, and ensuring compliance with international human rights standards. Skilled in data-driven advocacy, coordinating multi-stakeholder efforts, and conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses to inform policy development. Proven track record of publishing analytical research, managing protection projects, and collaborating with UNHCR and other global entities to strengthen protection mechanisms for vulnerable populations. Fluent in Portuguese, French, English, Spanish, with proficiency in Italian.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE JURY FOR “PREMIO SENTENCIA”
Sin Fronteras
09.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: NGO with the support of UNHCR, IOM, InterAmerican Court of Human Rights, and the Organization of American States
- Every year, a jury of five experts, specializing in migration law, refugee law, and human rights, engages in a two-month deliberation process to select the five most impactful legal decisions by Latin American judges
- These decisions are recognized for their positive influence on the lives of refugees, internally displaced people, and migrant populations in the region
- NGO with the support of UNHCR, IOM, InterAmerican Court of Human Rights, and the Organization of American States
PROTECTION OFFICER (P3) ROSTER
UNHCR
11.2023 - Current
- Officially recognized by the United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) for meeting rigorous professional and technical standards required for protection officer (p3) positions globally
- Demonstrated expertise in refugee protection, international humanitarian law, and operational management necessaries to exercise the work with due diligence and perfection
Senior Protection Officer
CEPREMI - CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF REFUGEES AND INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS
03.2023 - Current
- Led legal mapping projects addressing the rights of refugees and migrants, coordinating diverse multidisciplinary teams
- Conducted in-depth research and analysis of national legal frameworks, ensuring alignment with international standards
- Oversaw legal protection training programs for members of the Center, for authorities and NGOs, contributing to procedural strengthening during the Summer Schools of Refugee and Migration Studies
- Developed advocacy strategies engaging government and civil society for refugee rights
CORE GROUP MEMBER OF LEGAL COMMUNITY PLEDGE
UNHCR GLOBAL REFUGEE FORUM
12.2019 - Current
- The GRF Legal Community Pledge is a multi-stakeholder initiative that unites over 120 diverse legal and refugee rights stakeholders committed to utilizing the law to advance protection and solutions for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless people, and internally and other displaced people
- As a member of the core group, I participate in the elaboration and definition of the main initiatives we need to pledge to get institutions, sponsors and companies capable of putting in place our plan of actions in each fiscal year
- Every year we come with Several different propositions to expand the legal protection for refugees and forced migrants
- Through all these years, we succeeded in matching sponsors and initiatives, a lot of them already implemented by some of our members in different parts of the world
- This year, we defined the 6 top priorities in the strength of the legal protection community: 1) all initiatives should focus not exclusively on Legal Assistance but also the Legal Empowerment of Refugees and Other Displaced People
- 2) Focus on Legal Assistance for Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) and Refugee Rights Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- 3) push policies initiatives to promote Refugee Inclusion and Hiring
- 4) keep fighting for Legal Advocacy, Policy Engagement, and Asylum Capacity Development
- 5) we need a talented team responsible only for funding and resources, 6) Initiatives should be taken to suppress problems of collective action: lack of Mobilization Coordination, Collaboration, suppress the lack of legal capacity among members of refugee organizations
MONITORING AND EVALUATION COORDINATOR
INSTITUTO MORA
09.2020 - 03.2023
- Monitored legal protections for refugees and migrants, reporting rights violations and gaps in policy compliance in Mexico
- Designed advocacy plans targeting systemic issues in migration processes
- Produced reports and analyses on legal challenges affecting refugees and migrants in Mexico
- Coordinated research and training on international human rights and migration policies
Held the Chair Sergio Buarque de Holanda
Instituto Mora
09.2020 - 03.2023
- A chair established to strengthen cultural ties between Brazil and Mexico, while honoring the academic excellence of Brazilian social scientists in the fields of teaching, research, and community service
- The Instituto Mora offers a series of facilities to the holder of the Chair during his academic stay in the institution
- Besides the program of monitoring and evaluating rights violations in Mexican Borders, the Chair was responsible, through the access to libraries, classes and seminars, of my enriching knowledge acquisition
- My studies in Mexican history, sociology and political institutions were indispensable in making my social and political analysis of Mexican migration and refugees’ issues much sharper and more accurate
Held the Chair Sergio Vieira de Mello
Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa
08.2016 - 08.2020
- The UNHCR Brazil, and now Mexico, assigns the chair SVM to Universities or Institutes of research in recognition of their commitment to research, teaching in human rights, refugees and forced migration studies, and for their community services provided to this population
- As the holder of the chair in Rio de Janeiro, I was entrusted with the responsibility of designing and implementing impactful programs across three core areas: research, teaching, and community service for the refugee or migrant vulnerable population
- Over my four-year tenure, I oversaw and facilitated more than 40 fellowships for students and scholars specializing in refugee and forced migration studies
- I also founded and directed the Summer School of Refugee and Migration Studies, which provided training to over 300 participants, including legal scholars and teachers, students, civil servants, and members of civil society organizations
- Additionally, I launched a pioneering legal clinic in Rio de Janeiro to provide vital legal assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, ensuring access to justice for some of the most vulnerable populations
SENIOR FELLOW
MUNK CENTER FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS & PUBLIC POLICY - UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
09.2017 - 09.2019
- Produced comprehensive analyses and materials of Brazilian refugee law for Canadian immigration authorities
- Conducted research on social economic and legal barriers faced by migrants in America
- Delivered the final part of the consulting contract signed with the UNHCR to lead a team of quantitative researchers to collect social, legal and economic data through interviews with refugees selected from a sample considered scientifically representative of this population
- The goal was to compose the social, economic and geographical profile of the refugee population in the State of Rio de Janeiro
- The results of the research provided valuable information for the three spheres of government in Bazil
- The data collection guided the different public policies created to suppress the difficulties faced by refugees to access economic & social rights: social assistance, legal protection, medical care, public education and all social programs from the federal government to guarantee to all the vulnerable population a minimum revenue for living and other services to avoid a food insecurity outbreak in the country
PROJECT MANAGER
RALRA - RED DE APOYO LEGAL A LOS REFUGIADOS EN LAS AMÉRICAS
02.2018 - 03.2019
- Conducted surveys and policy evaluations of refugees and migrants’ legal protection and resettlement programs, leading to nationwide improvements in refugees and migration policies
- Facilitated, coordinated actions among government, civil society, and international organizations to enhance integration outcomes during the CEPREMI temporary office in Boa Vista (2019-20)
Education
Doctorate - Political Science
IUPERJ/UERJ – University Research Institute of the State of Rio de Janeiro
01.2001
PHd Visiting Fellow -
Sciences Po
01.1999
PHd Visiting Fellow -
THE EUROPEAN University Institute
01.1998
Master’s - Law
IISL – International Institute for the Sociology of Law
01.1996
Master’s - Political Science
IUPERJ – Rio de Janeiro State University Research Institute
01.1995
Bachelor’s - Economics
Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF)
01.1993
Skills
- Legal framework analysis (refugee, human rights, and migration law)
- Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
- Strategic advocacy and stakeholder engagement
- Data-driven policy development and evaluation
- Advanced drafting and report writing skills
Accomplishments
Launched the 2024 campaingn political rights are human rights , migrants should have the right to vote
Publications
- La Externalización de la Frontera Estadounidense en México., Revista DE LA Universidad de México, 02/01/23
- Lula y la reconstrucción creativa de la política de refugio en Brasil., ANIMAL POLITICO, 01/01/23
- The Migration State in South America, Stanford University Press, 2021
- Socioeconomic Profile of Refugees in Rio de Janeiro, UNHCR, 2019
- Labor Migrations in South America: The Expanded Mercosur, ILO, Geneva, 2004
Certification
Language certificates and my academics certificates
Languages
English
Full Professional
Spanish
Full Professional
French
Full Professional
Portuguese
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE JURY FOR “PREMIO SENTENCIA”
Sin Fronteras
09.2024 - Current
PROTECTION OFFICER (P3) ROSTER
UNHCR
11.2023 - Current
Senior Protection Officer
CEPREMI - CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF REFUGEES AND INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS
03.2023 - Current
MONITORING AND EVALUATION COORDINATOR
INSTITUTO MORA
09.2020 - 03.2023
Held the Chair Sergio Buarque de Holanda
Instituto Mora
09.2020 - 03.2023
CORE GROUP MEMBER OF LEGAL COMMUNITY PLEDGE
UNHCR GLOBAL REFUGEE FORUM
12.2019 - Current
PROJECT MANAGER
RALRA - RED DE APOYO LEGAL A LOS REFUGIADOS EN LAS AMÉRICAS
02.2018 - 03.2019
SENIOR FELLOW
MUNK CENTER FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS & PUBLIC POLICY - UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
09.2017 - 09.2019
Held the Chair Sergio Vieira de Mello
Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa
08.2016 - 08.2020
PHd Visiting Fellow -
Sciences Po
PHd Visiting Fellow -
THE EUROPEAN University Institute
Master’s - Law
IISL – International Institute for the Sociology of Law
Master’s - Political Science
IUPERJ – Rio de Janeiro State University Research Institute
Bachelor’s - Economics
Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF)
Doctorate - Political Science
IUPERJ/UERJ – University Research Institute of the State of Rio de Janeiro
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