Izquierdo Torres was born in
Valledupar,
Cesar Department, Colombia. She is a member of the
Arhuaco people, of which she serves as a leader. Izquierdo Torres studied law at the
National University of Colombia before obtaining a master's degree in public administration from the . In addition, she also holds a diploma in food security. Between 2003 and 2008, Izquierdo Torres worked as a legal advisor for Dusakawi Empresa Promotora de Salud Indígena, an organisation promoting access to healthcare for indigenous communities in Colombia; in 2009, she worked with the Asociación de productores Agroecológicos Indígenas y Campesinos de la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, promoting the rights of indigenous farmers. Izquierdo Torres recognised territory as being a victim of the conflict within the JEP's framework, citing damage caused by
oil spills,
anti-personnel mines,
glyphosate spraying, and
illegal mining, largely on indigenous lands. Case 02 of the JEP formally recognised Katsa-Su and Eperara Euja territories as victims of the conflict. Case 09, which included primarily indigenous,
Afro-Colombian and
Romani victims, led to Izquierdo Torres calling publicly for "inter-justice dialogue" between the Colombian judiciary and marginalised groups. In 2024, lawyers for several FARC leaders filed for a
recusal of Izquierdo Torres, stating she lacked impartiality. The evidence cited against her included comments made in 2021 where she called for an end to the "continued denial" from FARC of committing crimes during the conflict; and her indigenous background, which they stated meant she was biased against the defendants in a trial considering whether FARC had committed
crimes against humanity following the
massacre of 27
Awa-Kwaiker people in
Nariño. The recusal attempt was criticised as a "defence strategy" and not upheld by JEP. In 2025, Izquierdo Torres was named as Jurist of the Year by the Centre for International Human Rights at Northwestern University's
Pritzker School of Law in recognition of her "visionary jurisprudence recognising the rights of Indigenous communities and the environment". == References ==