Roberto Celedón Fernández

Roberto Antonio Celedón Fernández (born 31 January 1947) is a Chilean human rights lawyer who was a member of the Chilean Constitutional Convention. In 2025 he was appointed as deputy after the death of his wife, Mercedes Bulnes, who served in that office.

Early life and education Celedón was born in Santiago on 31 January 1947 to Enrique Celedón and María Gabriela del Carmen Fernández. He studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, where he also earned a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning. He later completed a master’s degree in Constitutional Law at the University of Talca.

Political career Celedón joined the Christian Democratic Party in 1963 and, while a law student, became involved in the Instituto de Humanismo Cristiano in 1966, a study group focused on Catholic social doctrine. In 1973, they were subjected to repression by the regime and were detained and tortured. He later worked as a human rights lawyer, including as a member of the Vicariate of Solidarity. He received 23,468 votes, corresponding to 10.30% of the valid votes cast, making him the leading vote-getter in the district.

During the convention, he coordinated the Committee on Human Rights, Historical Truth, and the Foundations for Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-Repetition, and later served on the Committee on Fundamental Rights and the Committee on Harmonization.

Recognition

In 2022, he was awarded the Jaime Castillo Velasco Prize in recognition of his longstanding commitment to the defence of human rights.