Dr Luna Borges

Dr Luna Borges is a Lecturer in Law and Supervising Attorney at the Smith Family Human Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School, and a Research Affiliate of PeaceRep at the University of Edinburgh. Luna has extensive experience in interdisciplinary research and policy advocacy.

Luna’s research examines the interconnections between gender, race, class, and territory within legal and regulatory frameworks. Her scholarship is informed by the collaboration with community-led organizations from the Global South, particularly on projects at the intersection of human rights, systemic inequalities, conflict and crisis, socio-environmental issues, and the protection of human rights defenders in historically targeted territories. Drawing on contributions from Latin American and Caribbean decolonial and Black feminist theory, Luna is passionate about mentoring students and collaborating with partners in transformational advocacy and critical pedagogy.

Her recent work includes co-supervising a project at the Smith Family Human Rights Clinic, led by Professor Sarah Knuckey, exploring the intersections between conflict and climate change. In partnership with the Yemeni-led Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, the project produced a report advocating for the integration of environmental and climate concerns into Yemen’s transitional justice process.