Regina Tamés ’94 — A Women’s Rights Activist

By Rich Beebe P'10

“My time in Westover — although brief — was certainly a turning point,” recalled Regina Tamés ’94 about the year she spent at the School as a boarder from Mexico. “It was the first time I spent a prolonged period of time outside my country. I had the opportunity to get to know

realities outside of Latin America and to learn from extraordinary young people with a vision and understanding of the world that was different but complementary to my own.”

Regina now serves as the deputy director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch. She is a lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in women’s rights advocacy and litigation, and more than 10 years of experience in management, fundraising, and leadership within women’s rights organizations.

From 2011 to 2020, Regina was the Executive Director of the Information Group on Reproductive Choice, one of the leading reproductive justice organizations in the region. Regina has also worked at the Latin America and Caribbean Office of Planned Parenthood Global, for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, and the Center for Justice and International Law. She has taught undergraduate and master's-level courses on human rights and gender at universities in Mexico. She actively participates in several governing bodies of local organizations and has received awards for her outstanding work as a women's rights activist.

Most recently, Regina worked as Program Officer for Latin America at Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, providing technical assistance to local organizations working directly with historically discriminated communities.

“Since graduating from high school,” Regina explained, “I knew that I wanted to dedicate my professional life to the defense of human rights. At that time, at least in Mexico, this work was not so common. I studied law, which provided me with many tools to pursue what then seemed like an impossible job but is now my passion and life project.”

“Throughout my career,” Regina continued, “I began to specialize in the defense of women. I delved into feminist theories and movements, and that is where I found my place. It has been incredible. I feel very fortunate to be able to commit my career to this cause and to be inspired by global organizations, but especially by local activists.”

“Today,” Regina noted, “I work not only in Mexico but globally, and this perspective has allowed me to learn from a variety of organizations, their achievements, and also their challenges in a world that still does not seem to fully recognize women’s rights.”

Looking back, Regina added, “My time at Westover is one of the most precious times I treasure from my youth. It was an opportunity to begin to be an autonomous person, with ideas and convictions of my own. The school environment was perfect for fostering those emotions and questions I had. It was extraordinary to share that time with so many women — classmates, but also teachers — and to learn values such as solidarity and empathy.”