Iván Velásquez Gómez

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Velásquez and the second or maternal family name is Gómez.
Assistant Secretary-General
Iván Velásquez Gómez
Ivan Velasquez Gomez Portrait.jpg
3rd Head of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala
In office
1 October 2013 – 3 September 2019
Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon
António Guterres
Deputy (2016)
Preceded byFrancisco Dall'Anese
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born (1955-05-12) 12 May 1955 (age 66)
Medellín, Colombia
AwardsRight Livelihood Award

Iván Velásquez Gómez (born May 12, 1955) is a Colombian jurist and diplomat. From October 2013 to September 2019, he was the head of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).[1]

Biography[]

Iván Velásquez was born in Medellín, Colombia. He studied law at the University of Antioquia. Later, he was appointed Antioquia Deputy Prosecutor during 1991 and 1994, where he initiated investigations related to torture, extrajudicial executions and abuses. In 1996 he was assistant magistrate in the Council of State, and a year later he was elected Regional Director of Public Prosecutors' Offices in Medellin for 1997 to 1999.[1]

He was elected auxiliary magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia in 2000. Between 2006 and 2012, Velásquez coordinated the Commission of Investigative Support of the Criminal Chamber, in charge of investigating the Parapolitica case.[1]

In 2011 he was awarded the World Human Rights Prize by the International Bar Association and a year later the Association of German Judges awarded him for his commitment in the fight against corruption.[1]

At the end of September 2013, he was appointed Commissioner of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) at the level of Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations Organization, replacing Francisco Dall'Anese.[1]

In 2018 he was awarded the Right Livelihood Award along with Thelma Aldana for "their innovative work [with CICIG] in exposing abuse of power and prosecuting corruption, thus rebuilding people’s trust in public institutions."[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Biografía del Comisionado". CICIG (in Spanish). October 2013.
  2. ^ 3 Saudi human rights activists awarded "Alternative Nobel", JAN M. OLSEN, Fox News, September 24, 2018
Positions in intergovernmental organisations
Preceded by 3rd Head of the International Commission against
Impunity in Guatemala
2013–2019 		Succeeded by
Office abolished
Retrieved from ""