ICTJ deeply mourns jurist and professor Theo van Boven, an eminence and true innovator in the field of international law, as well as a fearless defender of victims globally, who sadly passed away on May 9th. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Amongst many other positions, van Boven served as UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Reparation to Victims of Gross Violations of Human Rights, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, and as the first registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. He also held a longstanding position as Honorary Professor of International Law at University of Maastricht, in The Netherlands.
For over five decades, this scholar worked tirelessly to transform international law into an instrument that serves those who were most affected by gross violations of human rights. Notably, Van Boven codified the basic principles and guidelines on the right to remedy and reparations for victims of gross violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, which were discussed and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005. These principles and guidelines changed the international criminal law framework and practice, and fundamentally shaped the field of transitional justice by placing the focus of international law proceedings on victims’ rights to reparations and access to justice.
Van Boven’s commitment to the pursuit of justice was relentless. He spoke up about impunity and accountability in contexts of repression such as the military dictatorships in Argentina and Chile, where he also championed the cause of the disappeared, even when political pressure limited others from doing so. Today, ICTJ honors his voice, his perspective, and his deep-rooted legacy. Inspired by his resolve, we will continue our commitment to uphold human dignity above all else in the pursuit of justice and lasting peace all over the world, however long it takes.
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FEATURE PHOTO: Theo van Boven speaks during an interview produced by Maastricht University in April 2013 and featured in a video shared by Human Rights Defenders. (Maastricht University/Human Rights Defenders via YouTube)
