2024-08-16 21:44:24
In a plenary session held today, August 16, the House of Representatives of Colombia made a historic decision by electing Iris Marín Ortiz as the new Ombudsman.
Marin, Renowned lawyer and human rights defender, received a resounding 170 votes, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the country’s history. Her term, which will last four years, will begin on September 1, 2024.
Marín Ortiz was elected after President Gustavo Petro presented a list of candidates. On August 8, the president informed Congress of his proposal, emphasizing that the candidates fully met “the legal requirements demanded by Law 24 of 1992.” In his message, Petro highlighted the importance of this election for the defense of fundamental rights in Colombia.
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Iris Marín Ortiz, a lawyer graduated from the University of Rosario and a Master in Law from the National Universityis an expert in transitional justice, with an outstanding career in issues of victims and peace. Her experience includes her work as an auxiliary judge of the Constitutional Court and her participation as an advisor to the National Government during the peace negotiations with the FARC. In addition, she has worked in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, the Victims Unit, UN Women and the Truth Commission.
Upon assuming her new role, Marín Ortiz expressed her commitment to the defense of human rights in the country. “The people who will work in the Ombudsman’s Office will not only be professionals with academic training, but will also have their hearts set on Human Rights,” she declared. She added that human rights are “diverse, universal, apolitical and only recognize human dignity,” underlining her inclusive and humanitarian vision for her management at the head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
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