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Senior Advisor

Navona Strategic Advisors, LLC

Vanessa (She/Her) is a human rights lawyer, advocacy specialist, and strategic consultant with over 15 years of experience working with international organizations, academics, and local NGO partners to develop and implement advocacy and research initiatives that promote and protect the human rights of vulnerable groups. Vanessa has extensive experience in torture prevention, advocacy before United Nations human rights mechanisms, strategic litigation, policy and legislative advising, and development of resources and specialized capacity building programs for diverse stakeholders. An expert in human rights, torture prevention, and international development, she has advised on and managed projects with leading international organizations and NGOs, and she has undertaken fieldwork in numerous countries, including Armenia, Brazil, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Thailand, and Tunisia. 

Vanessa Drummond was the assistant director of the Anti-Torture Initiative at American University’s Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law. In this role, she led global human rights and torture prevention projects and worked with partners in countries around the world to engage in strategic research and advocacy, and to implement targeted training and litigation efforts to fight and prevent torture worldwide. Her work supported the development of norms and the implementation of reforms and best practices in different jurisdictions, including justice and accountability efforts in Mexico related to femicide and enforced disappearances. She has trained judges, lawyers, and doctors on implementation of the Istanbul Protocol in the Brazilian context. She also engaged in strategic advocacy around thematic issues not traditionally encompassed by the torture and ill-treatment framework, such as abuses in healthcare settings and treatment of women, LGBTI persons, gender non-conforming individuals, and children. 

Vanessa was instrumental in the development of the groundbreaking new Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering (known as the Méndez Principles), serving on the Coordination Group and as a member of the Drafting Group and Editing Group. She also participated in the drafting of the Revised Istanbul Protocol, contributing to the Chapter on Relevant International Legal Norms and Standards. She has published articles on international human rights policy and torture prevention and is a guest author with Just Security. 

Vanessa previously supported the mandate of the former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture as a researcher and legal analyst, and, in support of the Kovler Project Against Torture, conducted research on and identified areas of non-compliance by States Parties to the UN Convention Against Torture. She has significant work experience in international development, with an expertise in children, youth, and gender issues. She has held positions with UNICEF Brazil; the World Bank’s Strategy, Gender and Special Initiatives Team; the Education Development Center; and Save the Children USA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Division. Vanessa is a bilingual English and Portuguese speaker and is fluent in Spanish. 

J.D., American University Washington College of Law

M.A. International Development, American University School of Foreign Service

B.A., New York University     

Human Rights and Torture Prevention

International Law and Access to Justice

Advocacy and Public Policy

International Development

Children, Youth, and Gender