Marcela Szymanski is a Brussels-based Human Rights expert and public affairs strategist, a former EU+NATO news correspondent (CNN en Español). Her academic research is in the fields of democratization and human rights, especially the right of freedom of religion. Marcela’s current research interests include the impact of Article 18 violations on women and girls, as well as financial tools to contain autocrats acting against their own people.  

Marcela is the Head of International Advocacy for the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), with over 20 years’ experience as a media correspondent and public affairs professional, helping to understand the value of promoting and protecting Human Rights by informing policy-makers, law professionals, media and academics of various disciplines. 

Between 2015 and 2024 Marcela was the Editor of ACN’s report “Religious Freedom in the World”, published every 2 years and covering all major religions within 196 countries.  

Marcela is a regular lecturer and speaker with the World Law Congress, the Organization of American States, the Summer University programs for Notre Dame School of Law, Ave Maria School of Law, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria School of Governance and Law. 

With a BA in Communications, her graduate studies are in Economic Policy and International Comparative Politics (Georgia State University). Marcela was for several years an international media correspondent and, based in Brussels, reported for CNN en Español on EU and NATO issues. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Dutch, and has a working knowledge of Italian.