María Nieves Rico studied Social Anthropologist at the National University of Rosario, Argentina, and has Master’s degrees in Sociology of Development, and in Urban Development and Local Administration. She also has a Diploma in International Relations in Madrid, and a Doctorate in Sociology from the Complutense University of Madrid. María is a specialist in public policies with a focus on gender and human rights. She has authored articles, documents and books on the topic of women and gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean with focuses on the labour market, migration, family, care, education and training, poverty, social protection, and violence. Currently, she is Director of the Division of Gender Affairs of The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).