Claudia Blum Email and Phone Number

Vice-President of the General Assembly 2006-2007. President of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries in 2008. Represented Colombia in UN main bodies and Executive Boards of UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, and in the specialized thematic Committees existing in the Organization. Promoted and/or participated in events and high-level meetings on issues related to shared responsibility in the fight against drugs, disarmament, eradication of antipersonnel mines, Security Council reform, climate change, the millennium development goals, the financial and economic crisis, food security, trafficking in persons, advancement of women, promotion of human rights and humanitarian assistance. Led the work to the adoption of several resolutions presented by Colombia in the UN, related to the illicit trade on small arms and light weapons; the economic empowerment of women; and the proclamation of the International Year of People of African Descent.Promotion of the candidature of Colombia to the Security Council (for the term 2011-2012), in a campaign that started in September 2006 and finalized with the election of Colombia in a session of the General Assembly held on October 2010.

Elected to the Colombian Senate from 1991 to 2006. First woman ever elected as President of the Congress in Colombia (2005-2006). Worked on important laws and constitutional reforms related to the modernization and transparency of the State, the search for peace, the strengthening of the justice system, the fight against illicit drug trafficking, the protection of the environment, and human rights issues, in particular victims of kidnapping, human trafficking and the rights of children. Authored or sponsored the reform to allow the application of extradition as an international cooperation tool against organized crime; the new criminal code; the law for the pursuit and expropriation of assets from illicit activities; the Justice and Peace legislation, which defines instruments for the demobilization of illegally armed groups within the principles of truth, justice and reparation to victims; the anti-corruption Statute, which allowed effective penalization of abuses against public administration; the Constitutional reform that included a one-time Presidential reelection; the national strategy law for the fight against human trafficking; laws to fight kidnapping and protect its victims; the law for the creation of the Ministry of the Environment. Organized political debates on the state of education, on actions to improve the attention given to victims of forced displacement due to violence, and on assessments to strengthen the electoral system in Colombia.As President of the Senate, led initiatives aimed at increasing public information on legislative work and citizen participation in the process of evaluating laws. Pushed forward the launching of a Congressional television station, as well as initiatives for the better use of technology in the Congress, modernization of the Congressional Library, and actions guaranteeing the safety and security of the Legislative branch.

Director in four versions of International Arts Festivals

Promoted public space, urban, enviromental and cultural decisions.