In Memory of Gustavo Gallon

1952 – 30 June 2026

It is with great sadness that ABColombia learned of the death of Gustavo Gallo. We mourn his passing and are thinking of his family and his colleagues at this time.

Gustavo was an incredible human rights defender, who sought and obtained justice for so many. He was a man who strove to uphold the law and to ensure justice for victims

Gustavo was well-known and well respected, and yet one of the most humble and kindest of men that I had the privilege of knowing.

Gustavo really cared about people – this is something that was particularly evident every time I met him. He was an exceptionally intelligent person who really understood the law. A person who stood up for the rights of the most vulnerable and the most marginalised in Colombia, internationally and in multilateral forums.

Gustavo had worked for over 50 years defending victims of human rights violations. He founded the Colombian Commission Jurists in 1988 and was its director until 2022, when he was named Colombian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2022-2026). During his life he was also United Nations Special Representative on Equatorial Guinea (1999 – 2002,) and later a United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti (2013 – 2017). Throughout all his work he sought to strengthen democratic institutions and to defend the rights of victims of injustice with whom he had a deep solidarity.

His attention to the law, to justice for the most marginalised, to defending the rights of victims and strengthening democratic institutions resulted in the Colombian Commission of Jurists being one of the most respected human rights organisations in Colombia and beyond.

He is someone who will be sadly missed by me and all of us at ABColombia. We reach out to his family, his colleague in the Colombian Commission of Jurists and all those who knew Gustavo well, to express our condolences on your immense loss.

Gustavo you will be remembered and greatly missed by me and all who have been part of ABColombia through the years, we have all learnt so much from you, been guided by you, and have greatly admired you, not only for your immense knowledge, but also for your incredible kindness and compassion.

Rest in peace Gustavo, after a life spent struggling to obtain justice for others, a life well lived. You will be remembered by so many people.

Louise Winstanley

Programme and Advocacy Manager, ABColombia