El 23 de abril de 2024, se inauguró el Capítulo de Cali, Colombia de la sociedad J. Reuben Clark. Al evento asistieron varios abogados de distintas denominaciones religiosas, quienes comparten el propósito de servir en la comunidad de Cali y promover la protección de los derechos humanos.
David Garner, Presidente Internacional de JRCLS, se unió virtualmente a la reunión y animó a los nuevos miembros del capítulo a tener en mente la misión de JRCLS de promover la justicia y la virtud a través del servicio público y la excelencia profesional.
Además, Cristina Ortega, Líder del Área Suramérica Noroeste, acudió en persona para conocer a los nuevos miembros del capítulo, responder sus preguntas, compartir experiencias sobre otros capítulos y colaborar en la organización de la junta directiva.
Se nombró como Presidente del Capítulo a el Elder Harold Truque, quien funge como Setenta Autoridad de Área de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días en el Área Suramérica Noroeste. También se eligió a una vicepresidenta, a un secretario y a miembros de junta directiva de mujeres en la ley, libertad religiosa, comunicaciones, y eventos, entre otros.
About the Author
*Lawyer from the Universidad Externado de Colombia (2008).
*Specialist in Criminal and Criminological Sciences from Universidad Externado de Colombia (2011).
*Master in Human Rights and Democratization from Universidad Externado de Colombia and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (2020), with a thesis on command responsibility in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, and its application in cases of sexual violence during the Colombian armed conflict.
*LL.M. in Comparative Law from Brigham Young University (2021), as a Fellow of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies.
**Cristina Ortega has worked as a criminal litigator for national and international firms before local and national judicial authorities, including the Colombian Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court of Justice. She has also worked as an attorney advisor in criminal matters for universities, the Innocence Project, and the Colombian Ministry of Justice. In addition, she has been a judicial officer of two high courts, namely, the Superior Council of the Judiciary, where she was in charge of disciplinary proceedings, and the Constitutional Court, where she focused on issues related to children’s educational rights, sexual and reproductive rights, the right to due process, the right to double instance, as well as freedom of religion, press, and information. After completing her master's degree at Brigham Young University, she interned with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights at the Organization of American States (OAS). Subsequently, she completed her international legal training at Kirton McConkie, where she currently is contracted as outside counsel. Besides, she serves as the JRCLS South America Northwest Area Chair (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) and as the Latin America Spanish Specialist for the JRCLS Communications Committee.