Iván Velásquez Gómez

Iván Velásquez Gómez (born 12 May 1955) is a Colombian lawyer, jurist, academic, politician and diplomat who has served as Ambassador of Colombia to the Holy See and the Order of Malta since 2025. He served as Minister of national defence and head of the international commission against impunity in Guatemala.

Born in Medellín, Antioquia, he graduated in Law from the University of Antioquia. He served as a litigator and director of the Antioquia Bar Association. He served as assistant magistrate of the Council of State from 1996 to 1997. He promoted the interinstitutional committee on human rights during his time as the Office of the Inspector General of Colombia. He coordinated the Investigative Support Commission of the Criminal Chamber, tasked with investigating relations between members of congress and paramilitaries from 2000 to 2006.

In July 2022, President Gustavo Petro appointed him Minister of National Defence. He assumed office on August 7. He resigned in February 2025. He was confirmed as Ambassador of Colombia to the Holy See in May 2025.

Biography Iván Velásquez Gómez was born on 12 May 1955 in Medellín, Antioquia. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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".

On 27 June 2022 he was appointed new Minister of National Defense under President-elect Gustavo Petro.

On 2 June 2025, a Guatemalan appeals court acting on a request by the office of the Attorney General of Guatemala ordered the arrest of Velásquez over his role in CICIG.