Theo
van Boven is a Dutch jurist and professor emeritus in international law who worked
on human rights issues with the United Nations during four decades. From 1977-1982
he served as the Director of the UN's Division of Human Rights, uncompromisingly
advocating for human rights concerns to become much more of a primary focus for
UN activities. From 1986 to 1991 he was the United Nation's Special Rapporteur
on the Right to Reparation to Victims of Gross Violations of Human Rights and
from 2001 to 2004, he served as Special Rapporteur on Torture. Theo van Boven
is also a member of the International Commission of Jurists, has served on numerous
international human rights Councils and Committees, and has written many articles
on international law and humanitarian law. In 1985 he received the Right Livelihood
Award, often called the Alternative Nobel Prize "...for speaking out on human
rights abuse without fear or favor in the international community.” In 2004 he
also received the Lisl and Leo Eitinger's Prize, the Human Rights Prize of the
University of Oslo " for his long-lasting and fruitful contribution to fight
torture, enforced disappearance and other severe violations of human rights."
