Juan Carlos Sánchez is a Salvadoran journalist, lawyer, anthropologist, and human rights defender. His career spans public institutions and social organizations in both El Salvador and the Central American region. In March 2017, Juan Carlos joined DPLF, where he supports the program on Impunity and Gross Human Rights Violations.

Before joining DPLF, he held key roles at Servicio Solidario CVX and the Foundation for the Study and Application of Law (FESPAD), contributing at various times as coordinator for the Planning and International Cooperation areas, the Political Advocacy area, and the Transparency and Anti-Corruption Program. His experience also includes work with the Human Rights Commission of El Salvador (CDHES) and the Human Rights Institute of the Central American University (IDHUCA), where he led educational, organizational, strategic planning, and civic advocacy processes.

Juan Carlos has lent his expertise as a consultant to various Salvadoran state institutions, such as the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman (PDDH), the Secretariat of Social Inclusion, and the National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONNA). He has also provided advisory services to international cooperation agencies and civil society organizations, including the Center for Consumer Defense, the Service for Training and Support for Local Development, the Communication for Development Foundation, and the Central American Institute for Democracy Studies (DEMOS).

In addition to his human rights advocacy, Juan Carlos is a columnist and a member of the Editorial Board of the digital newspaper VOCES. His work has been published in outlets such as Contrapunto and Diario Co-Latino. He has also contributed to academic research and publications, including Central America, a Disconnected Democracy; Communication, Information, and Power in El Salvador; and Keys to Democracy, among others.

His passion for sharing knowledge has led him to teach courses and deliver lectures on human rights, freedom of expression, the human right to communication, peace culture, and participatory methodologies. He has shared these teachings across various countries in the region, sowing seeds of change and empowerment.