María Luján Arias is an experienced lawyer with over 20 years of career in the judiciary of the Province of Río Negro, Argentina, specializing in human rights, constitutional law, and the defense of gender policies. Her robust academic background includes a Master of Arts in Restorative Justice from Eastern Mennonite University, a Master in Gender, Society and Public Policies from FLACSO, and a Specialist degree in Constitutional Justice and Human Rights from Bologna University, complemented by specialized diplomas in criminal law, family mediation, and children’s advocacy.
Throughout her judicial career, she has served in key roles such as First Instance Secretary in Family Court, coordinator of the Office of Comprehensive Processing of Family Law, and currently as Criminal Defense Counsel for Boys, Girls, and Adolescents. In these capacities, she has pioneered the integration of restorative practices for youth, applied conflict resolution expertise to land disputes involving indigenous communities, and championed legal analysis rooted in trauma-informed and anti-oppressive perspectives.
Her commitment to equity and the rule of law extends beyond the courtroom through active academic contributions, including peer-reviewed publications on restorative justice and childhood rights, speaking engagements at prominent Latin American congresses, and advanced training in strategies for trauma awareness and resilience from Eastern Mennonite University.