Janina Heller joined RFK Human Rights as the Donald M. and Susan N. Wilson Fellow after earning her J.D. with a concentration in International and Comparative Law from The George Washington University Law School. Janina currently works on the Latin America portfolio of the International Advocacy and Litigation team on a range of issues, including violence against women, enforced disappearances, and freedom of expression.
During law school, Janina participated in the domestic violence clinic and a human rights fact-finding mission, where she travelled to Belize to assist with an international dispute resolution between the Maya Peoples and the Government of Belize. Janina also interned at several non-profits, including the Tahirih Justice Center, the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), RFK Human Rights, and provided support to the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Upon graduation, Janina was awarded the National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Law Graduate Award for her work advancing women’s rights globally.
A dual citizen of Brazil and Switzerland, Janina speaks Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and has basic knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) and German. Janina holds a B.A. in Applied Legal Studies and Government from Suffolk University.