Martín Abregú

Martín Abregú is vice president for Democracy, Justice, and Free Expression. He also oversees the foundation’s regional programming in Eastern Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Central America, and the Andean Region.

Martín joined Ford in 2000, serving as program officer for human rights in the Santiago office. In 2007, he was appointed the foundation’s representative for the Andean Region and Southern Cone, guiding grant strategy and programs across the region. In 2010, he was named director of Human Rights and Governance. Working with program officers in New York and in nine regional offices around the world, Martín’s team focused on advancing economic and social rights, promoting transparent, effective, and accountable government, reforming global financial governance, and strengthening human rights worldwide. Martín was named vice president in 2013.

Before joining the foundation, Martín served for six years as executive director of the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), a leading human rights organization based in Argentina, where he led an organizational renewal and guided the institution to address new kinds of human rights challenges. Simultaneously, he served as the Argentina representative for the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), an inter-American human rights body that works across the hemisphere.

Martín has served as an associate professor of human rights at the University of Buenos Aires School of Law, where he earlier earned his law degree with a specialization in international law. He holds a master of laws degree in international legal studies from American University in Washington, DC. He has been an Ashoka Fellow since 1995.