Born to working-class parents in a rural area of north-east Colombia. He studied humanities in a seminary and received a doctorate in law in 1947 from the Pontifical Bolivarian University in Medellín. He was a Professor of Sociology and Public Law; he earned honorary doctorate degrees in Humanities from Georgetown University, Washington in 1984, and the University of Colorado Boulder in 1989, and in one in Managerial Economics from the Universidad Autónoma de Manizales, Colombia in 1995.

Before the Investiture Ceremony and as proof of an additional and collective achievement of ten of the most important universities in Colombia, such as the Universidad Icesi, and UPV itself, a meeting was held at Casa del Valle, Bogotá on 27 October to discuss cooperation for technology transfer towards regional systems of innovation in which a letter of intent was signed that aimed to establish the parameters for developing and strengthening the regional systems of technology transfer as interface mechanisms between universities and the production environment, the creation of Science and Technology Parks, and the consolidation of doctorate training programmes.

He had three children with his first wife, Rosa Helena Álvarez (deceased): Dentist Beatriz, Engineer Diego, and Lawyer/Ambassador María Clara; his second wife is the Venezuelan Ceramist Dalita Navarro. During the military dictatorship (1953-1957) he went to prison several times. 40 years ago he founded the bookshop and publisher, Tercer Mundo, and 5 years ago along with his children he founded the publisher, El Navigante Editores, and the publisher and bookshop Sota de Bastos. Labour Minister (1962); Member of Parliament and Senator (1958); Colombian Ambassador to Spain (1975).

President of Colombia 1982-1986, he began the Grupo de Contadora for Peace in Central America using dialogue between governments and guerilla fighters; he introduced open universities and education without schools which revolutionised the traditional methodology. He started the national education campaign, CAMINA which dramatically reduced illiteracy levels. He opened

Colombian international relations by joining it with the Non-Aligned Movement. He began peace processes using dialogue with guerilla fighters. Member of the Colombian Academies of Jurisprudence and Spanish Language; President of the Santillana Foundation for Ibero-America, with headquarters in Bogotá; President of the Commission of Truth in the peace process of El Salvador (Central America). President (1998) of the IDEA Mission (Sweden) to support the Guatemalan peace process.

With Presidents Carter and Sanguinetti, he participated in the Grupo de Bambito in Panama to prepare the country for the reversion of its Canal. In 1983 he received the Príncipe de Asturias Prize for International Cooperation; and in 2003 he received the Gabarrón de Valladolid Prize for promoting peace and defending the Spanish language. He is a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, created in 1994 by Pope John Paul II with its headquarters in Rome. Member of the Círculo de Montevideo (1996) created by then Uruguayan President, Julio Maria Sanguinetti. He belongs to a Group of ex-presidents who strive for world peace at the Jimmy Carter Center (Atlanta, USA).

He is member of a group of ex-presidents who strive for world peace at the Club de Madrid. He has a number of honours, among them the Gran Cruz de Isabel La Católica and the Orden de Carlos III from Spain; the Gran Águila Azteca from Mexico; the Légion d'Honneur from France; and others from various Latin American countries. He has authored several books on education, economics, politics, and sociology, among them Desde otro punto de vista (From Another Perspective), El rostro anhelante (The Yearning Face), Desde el alma del abedul (From the Soul of a Birch Tree), Colombia cara a cara (Colombia Face to Face), El homo sapiens se extravió en América Latina (Homo Sapiens Got Lost in Latin America), Declaración de amor (Declaration of Love); and with other authors, La Pasión de Gobernar (Passion for Governing) and Democracia en Guatemala (Democracy in Guatemala).

He lives in Bogotá, PO box 3974. His email address is: fundasan@cable.net.co