Leonardo Alvarado

Leonardo Alvarado
Assistant Professor of Political Science

Education:

  • L.L.M., Indigenous Peoples’ Law and Policy, University of Arizona College of Law, 2005
  • J.D., University of Arizona College of Law, 2004
  • M.A., American Indian Studies, University of Arizona, 2000
  • B.A., International Relations, Fort Lewis College, 1997

Areas of expertise: 

  • International Human Rights Law and Policy
  • Comparative Law and Policy on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
  • Legal Pluralism and Transitional Justice
  • Public Law and Public International Law

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-7256
Email Icon Email

Media Contact

Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

About Leonardo Alvarado

Leonardo Alvarado is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Fort Lewis College. He joined the College in the Fall of 2023. He is an international human rights attorney, consultant, and expert on International Law and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, having worked with various human rights bodies in the United Nations and Inter-American Systems. Professor Alvarado was also previously Assistant Professor of Applied Indigenous Studies at Northern Arizona University and Adjunct Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona College of Law.

Professor Alvarado has authored various articles, reports, and chapters on indigenous peoples’ efforts in implementing international human rights standards for protecting their ancestral lands and territories and traditional self-governance systems. In his work for international human rights bodies, he was the lead author of various thematic, country, and technical advice reports, as well as conducted training workshops on issues dealing with Indigenous Peoples’ and Consultation and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, Business, and Human Rights Issues, Access to Justice and Self-Determination. 
Representative published works include: 

Prospects and Challenges in the Implementation of Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights in International Law: Lessons from the Case of Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua, Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law (2007); International and Comparative Perspectives on the Recognition and Promotion of Indigenous Justice, in Indigenous Justice: Trends in Traditional, National and International Law, Marianne Nielsen and Karen Jarratt-Snider, eds. (University of Arizona Press, May 2020); Los Protocolos Indígenas en Honduras ante la problemática de la implementación de la Consulta Indígena: Experiencias de los Pueblos Nahua y Miskitu, in Protocolos Autonómicos de Consulta Previa Indígena en América Latina: Estudios de casos en Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, México y Perú, Salvador Millaleo, ed. (International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs – IWGIA, October 2020); and Study on Consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent with Indigenous Peoples in Africa, (International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs – IWGIA, October 2022).