Bernardo Sepúlveda Amor

Bernardo Sepúlveda Amor trained in law at UNAM and Cambridge and taught international law at El Colegio de México. His government work covered legal advice, foreign investment, and international economic affairs. After a brief Washington ambassadorship in 1982, he became foreign secretary and served throughout Miguel de la Madrid's presidency. ¹

Sepúlveda helped advance the Contadora peace initiative, through which Mexico, Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela sought negotiated settlements to Central America's conflicts. His ministerial career also encompassed the expansion of Latin American diplomatic coordination, nuclear disarmament initiatives, and Mexico's entry into GATT. He subsequently served as ambassador to Britain. ^{2, 1}

International adjudication became the principal focus of his later career. Sepúlveda served on the UN International Law Commission from 1997 to 2005, then as a judge of the International Court of Justice from 2006 to 2015 and its vice president from 2012 to 2015. After leaving the Court, he continued as an arbitrator and adviser in international disputes, including proceedings under ICSID, UNCITRAL, and International Chamber of Commerce rules. ¹