A Colombian jurist has been named the new President of Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the court announced Thursday afternoon.
President Juan Manuel Santos congratulated Humberto Antonio Sierra on his appointment, which is the first time a Colombian has held the presidency of the court.
The Inter-American Court on Human Rights is an autonomous judicial institution based in San Jose, Costa Rica, which exists to “safeguards the essential rights of man in the American continent.”
The court has had a strong interest in Colombia, particularly in the area of post-conflict justice and victims rights.
MORE: Inter-American Court of Human Rights comes to Medellin
The Cartagena-born Porto was appointed to the court two years ago and will hold the Presidency for two years.
MORE: Colombian judge elected to Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Porto has previously held roles as a judge in the Consitutional Court of Colombia, as a litigator for the Colombian Council of State and as a professor of constitutional law at the External University of Colombia.
Sources
- Humberto Sierra Porto, nuevo presidente de la CorteIDH (El Pais)
- Humberto Sierra elegido presidente de la Corte IDH (Caracol Radio)
