ESEN

Think tank · Bogotá, Colombia

An independent think tank with a Latin American vocation

Rigorous research, high-level training and public policy analysis in international humanitarian law and contemporary conflicts.

Mission

Why the Bogota Institute exists

The Bogota Institute was founded on the conviction that Latin America needs its own voice in the global debate on international humanitarian law. 21st-century armed conflicts are shaped by artificial intelligence, information operations and the urbanisation of the battlefield. They pose legal challenges that require specialised, independent and regionally-informed analysis.

Our mission is to produce excellent research, train the professionals who work in and on conflicts, and contribute to the development of IHL as a living instrument for the protection of people affected by war.

We operate with full analytical independence. Our positions are determined solely by academic and scientific criteria, not by the interests of donors, governments or armed actors.

Analytical independence
Our conclusions are not conditioned by who funds the research.
Academic rigour
First-rate methodological standards applied to real-world problems.
Latin American perspective
Colombia and the region as a starting point for global IHL analysis.
Open access
Research and knowledge generated are publicly accessible.

Team

Who leads the Institute

Juan Pablo Acosta Peñaloza
Juan Pablo Acosta Peñaloza
Founder · Chair of the Academic Board (ad honorem)
A lawyer and specialist adviser, he holds an LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy and a Master's in International Law from Universidad de La Sabana. He teaches at postgraduate level in Colombia. He has experience in the application of the international regimes relevant to situations of armed conflict. His work includes the design and structuring of courses in IHL and human rights for civil servants, armed forces and police personnel, and other legal practitioners. He also tutors in research methodology for the collection and verification of open-source evidence of potential human rights violations and breaches of IHL.
Selected publications
"La detención o retención en los conflictos armados no internacionales: reflexiones sobre el caso colombiano." En Desafíos del DIH en Colombia. U. Externado, 2022 ↗
"La perspectiva holística de la reintegración." En Aprendiendo de la transición. Uniandes, 2021 ↗
Elimileth Montes Támara
Elimileth Montes Támara
Academic Director · Legal Representative
A specialist lawyer with extensive experience as Legal Coordinator and Compliance Officer, with comprehensive expertise across employment, civil, commercial, contract, administrative, corporate and regulatory law, as well as human rights. She has led legal teams, advised senior management, and designed and implemented regulatory compliance, ethics and legal risk prevention programmes, strengthening organisational governance and transparency. She brings strategic vision, integrity, leadership and assertive communication, together with the ability to resolve conflicts and take timely, well-founded decisions, contributing a comprehensive legal approach that protects the organisation's interests and safeguards the rights of individuals.

What sets us apart

Our value proposition

01
Deep IHL specialisation
We are not a generalist think tank. Research, training and analysis all revolve around IHL and its application in real conflicts.
02
Practical connection to the Colombian conflict
Colombia offers one of the world's richest laboratories for the study of IHL. That experience informs and enriches our global analysis.
03
International and accessible training
We bring teachers and researchers from world-class institutions for programmes designed from and for the region.