Lady Alejandra Vera is a lawyer, defender of women’s rights and candidate for a master’s degree in family studies from Simón Bolívar University. Ms. Vera is the founder and executive director of Corporación Mujer, an expert in sexual and reproductive rights, a consultant on violence based on sex-gender, and co-partner of the Oriéntame Colombia Foundation. She has carried out investigative actions with the Complutense University of Madrid and the National University of Colombia. Ms. Vera has contributed to academic reports such as "Access Barriers to the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy of Venezuelan Migrants in Colombia" presented by La Mesa por la Vida y la Women's Health, Doctors of the World and the Women's Corporation.

Lady has extensive experience in coeducation and prevention of sexual violence with girls, boys and adolescents in educational establishments of the nationwide. She is proficient in the accompaniment, documentation and collective denunciation of women victims of sexual violence within the Colombian armed conflict. She frequently carries out actions to promote the sexual and reproductive rights of Colombian girls, women, migrants and refugees on the North Santander border. 

2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strategies Implemented by IVLP International Alumni Leaders Against Violence in Colombia

The project created a network of leaders to share the knowledge they acquired during their IVLP experience and created an impact in the academic, political, and social fields. Leaders and officials shared the models used in the United States to prevent, call attention to, and punish violence against women. The project promoted awareness towards violence against women in Colombian society, especially in border areas, through a collaborative effort with 125 women leaders, local institutions, and civil society organizations. The series of activities included training workshops, educational talks, dissemination and awareness campaigns, and the creation of support networks for victims of violence.

Lady Alejandra also participated in a panel discussion with other Awardees who implemented both 2022 and 2023 IIA projects as part of the IVLP Impact Awards Alumni Discussion Series panel on “Sustainable Community Impact” which you can read more about here.

"The project has been a great tool to strengthen our work in assisting victims of violence in the borders. Better protocols and resources have been established." – Project Participant

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Toolbox for Challenges Faced by Women Leaders Working for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Colombia 

This project taught insights acquired in the International Visitor Leadership Program to women leaders so that they could better understand social contexts, structural problems and actions in the fight against gender-based violence. Through instructional seminars, Lady Alejandra taught 120 women leaders in person and virtually, located in the cities of Popayán, Villavicencio, Neiva, Barranquilla and Cúcuta. In person meetings will took place every month in each city. Additionally, a second expert was brought in to provide insight in the second round of meetings. This project created a network of exchange and support for future action that will eliminate violence against women. The seminars also showed the 120 participants how to report acts of violence or instances where a women could be a victim of gender-based violence.

6 workshops were organized across Colombia. Participants engaged in a round-table discussion where they recounted their personal experiences with gender-based violence and the lack of legal protection in the country.  Each participant was able to receive information about preventing gender-based violence, how to care for survivors and how to advocate for better treatment in the civil service.  

Sexual exploitation prevention workshop

Workshop to strengthen women leaders against sexual violence in the context of the Colombian armed conflict

Training session on emergency routes for violence against women

IVLP Exchange Experience

Lady Alejandra was a participant in the IVLP Project Ending Gender-Based Violence in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center. She was a participant in the IVLP Project Ending Gender-Based Violence in 2022, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360.

Lady Alejandra's exchange experience led her to develop her IVLP Impact Award Project: "The IVLP [exchange experience] inspired [me] to continue working for the prevention, attention and sanction of all forms of violence that are experienced, especially in border areas. Winning the [2022] award has [had] a huge impact in continuing to seek the eradication of violence in the world."

U.S. Communities Visited in 2022

Phoenix, AZ; Washington, DC; Jacksonville, FL; Manchester, NH

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021

Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, DC; Jacksonville, FL; Miami, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Raleigh, NC

“My IVLP experience was very enriching. It is so important for women leaders to be able to participate in international spaces and to make their work known. We contribute from our experience so that there is a world of rights and equality for all.” - Lady Alejandra Vera

Country: Colombia

Click here to go back to the IVLP Impact Awards Main Page