Anti-corruption activists

Colombian lawyer from the University of Antioquia, former Director of the Antioqueño Bar Association “Colegas”, where he carried out campaigns against the “Statute for the defense of justice”, which sought to establish faceless judges and secret witnesses.

Between 1991 and 1994 he held the position of Departmental Prosecutor of Antioquia, where he initiated investigations related to torture, extrajudicial executions and abuses against the civilian population. In this role, he managed to consolidate the Permanent Human Rights Office of the Departmental Attorney, and promoted the Inter-institutional Committee on Human Rights.

In 1996, he was an auxiliary magistrate in the State Council, and a year later he was elected as Regional Director of Prosecutors in Medellín. In 2000 he was elected auxiliary magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice, and between 2006 and 2012 he coordinated the Investigative Support Commission of the Criminal Chamber, where he was in charge of investigating relations between members of the Congress of the Republic and paramilitarism, which resulted in over 50 Members of Congress being charged.

In 2011, the International Bar Association (IBA) presented him with the World Prize for Human Rights, and in 2012, the Association of German Judges awarded him in recognition of his commitment to the fight against impunity and respect for fundamental rights.

Between 2013 and 2019, he was appointed as Commissioner of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) at the rank of Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Organization.

Colombian lawyer from the University of Antioquia, former Director of the Antioqueño Bar Association “Colegas”, where he carried out campaigns against the “Statute for the defense of justice”, which sought to establish faceless judges and secret witnesses.
Between 1991 and 1994 he held the position of Departmental Prosecutor of Antioquia, where he initiated investigations related to torture, extrajudicial executions and abuses against the civilian population. In this role, he managed to consolidate the Permanent Human Rights Office of the Departmental Attorney, and promoted the Inter-institutional Committee on Human Rights.

In 1996, he was an auxiliary magistrate in the State Council, and a year later he was elected as Regional Director of Prosecutors in Medellín. In 2000 he was elected auxiliary magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice, and between 2006 and 2012 he coordinated the Investigative Support Commission of the Criminal Chamber, where he was in charge of investigating relations between members of the Congress of the Republic and paramilitarism, which resulted in over 50 Members of Congress being charged.

In 2011, the International Bar Association (IBA) presented him with the World Prize for Human Rights, and in 2012, the Association of German Judges awarded him in recognition of his commitment to the fight against impunity and respect for fundamental rights.

Between 2013 and 2019, he was appointed as Commissioner of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) at the rank of Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Organization.

Economist from the Nueva Granada Military University, lawyer from the National University of Colombia, and Master and specialist in corporate finance from the College of Higher Administration Studies.
Mr. Acosta has been a university professor since 1993 and is a columnist for the newspaper El Espectador, from where he has managed to position himself as one of the most forceful figures in public opinion, with important complaints about corruption cases such as Odebrecht, Navelena, Medimas, Bonos Agua and the sale of Isagen, among others.

For over 25 years, Mr. Acosta has worked in the stock and financial sector for firms such as Serfinco, Corredores Asociados, Grupo Aval and Asesores en Valores S.A., and he has also worked as an attorney in matters related to economic, commercial and administrative law.

Director of the Fundación Paz y Reconciliación – PARES (Peace and Reconciliation Foundation). He is a Colombian political analyst with extensive experience in issues related to the country’s armed conflict. He has had opinion pieces and columns published in the Semana, Diners and Credencial magazines, as well as for the El Tiempo and El Colombiano newspapers. He is the author of books including “Goodbye to Politics, Welcome the War”, “Miseries of War, Hope for Peace”, among others. In 2019, he presented his most recent work ´The Return of Uribismo´, and the second edition of ´My Years of War´, where he recounts his experiences during his time as an ELN militant.