Melissa Martinez, University of Mary Washington

Melissa Martinez is an assistant professor for the Department of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington. She specializes in Human Rights and Latin American politics.

Positionality statement

Dr. Martinez examines whether international and local human rights NGOs influence change in human rights practices in Mexico and Central America. She also examines the obstacles that many of these organizations face when the state is supporting national security policies. She centers her research in examining how policies or political behavior affect physical integrity violations including torture, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in the Latin American region.