Secretary-General Appoints Iván Velásquez Gómez of Colombia to Head

 

International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Iván Velásquez Gómez of Colombia as Commissioner of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), established under an agreement between the United Nations Organization and the State of Guatemala that entered into force on 4 September 2007.

Mr. Velásquez succeeds outgoing Commissioner Francisco Dall’Anese of Costa Rica, who served at CICIG’s helm for three years, and to whom the Secretary‑General expresses his appreciation for his deep commitment to the fight against impunity and efforts to strengthen Guatemala’s justice institutions.

A distinguished former auxiliary magistrate of Colombia’s Supreme Court, Mr. Velásquez coordinated high-profile investigations into links between paramilitary groups and public officials.  He also gained extensive prosecutorial and investigative experience in the Attorney General’s Office and as Regional Director of the Public Prosecutor’s office covering the Department of Antioquia.

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For information media • not an official record