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May 03, 2007

DePaul Law Professor And Human Rights Law Advocate, M. Cherif Bassiouni, To Be Honored At Special Celebration Set For May 8

The DePaul University College of Law will celebrate the illustrious career of M. Cherif Bassiouni, an internationally-acclaimed human rights law advocate and president emeritus of the College of Law’s International Human Rights Law Institute (IHRLI), at a festive dinner set for 6:30 p.m., May 8 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel InterContinental, 505 N. Michigan Ave. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Richard M. Daley will serve as the honorary chair of the event, which will spotlight Bassiouni’s more than 43 years of service to DePaul and his work across the globe to advance human rights through law.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Rahma bint Al Hassan of Jordan will offer the dinner’s keynote address on behalf of her father, His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Al Talal. Princess Rahma works closely with the El Hassan Youth Award, an organization that offers Jordanian youth educational and non-academic programs designed to help them have balanced personality development.

“Professor Bassiouni has earned an international reputation as a respected voice and dedicated champion for progressing human rights by employment of the rule of law,” said Glen Weissenberger, dean of the College of Law. “His work through IHRLI is known in legal circles the world over. It is an honor for the College of Law to pay tribute to this very special man of monumental accomplishment who has been part of the College of Law for 43 years.”

An expert on the Middle East, international criminal law and human rights law, Bassiouni has most recently been involved in such projects as helping to restore legal education in war torn Iraq and working to incorporate the rule of law into the new Iraqi legal framework.

His work at DePaul has brought international visibility to the university and to the College of Law. Among the highlights of his achievements are:

  • From 1992 to 1994 he was Chairman of the United Nations Secretary Council Commission to investigate war crimes in the former Yugoslavia. That work led to the establishment of an international tribunal in The Hague to prosecute war criminals.

  • Between 1994 and 1998 he worked within the U.N. on the establishment of the International Criminal Court – for four years as Vice-Chair of the General Assembly’s special committee, and in 1998 as chair of the Drafting Committee at the Rome Diplomatic Conference which established the Court. That work earned him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 1999.

  • In 2004 he was appointed by United Nations Secretary General as the Independent Expert for human rights in Afghanistan. His scathing report revealed an array of serious human rights violations that included repressive actions by factional commanders acting outside of government control and violations by state security forces and the national police.

  • From 1998 to 2000 Bassiouni was the independent expert for the Commission on Human Rights on The Rights to Restitution, Compensation and Rehabilitation for Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

  • In 1977 to 1978, he was co-chair of the Committee of Experts that drafted the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

    The author of numerous books on international criminal law, comparative criminal law and human rights, Bassiouni is renowned globally for his lifelong work. He is the founder of IHRLI, which was launched by the College of Law in 1990. Under Bassiouni’s direction, IHRLI has worked in areas throughout the world that have suffered the ravages of conflict, including, Iraq, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Guatemala and the former Yugoslavia.

    While Bassiouni no longer oversees the daily activities of IHRLI, he continues to teach seminars in the College of Law and work on limited projects through IHRLI. The legacy he left behind at IHRLI will serve as the centerpiece of the celebration in his honor and will continue to shape its work long into the future. “IHRLI grew into a world player in the area of human rights law education and advocacy under the skillful direction of professor Bassiouni,” said Alberto Coll who took over the reins of IHRLI in 2006. “I look forward to his continued contributions to the institute and to celebrating the model he set to steer it into the future.”

    Note to editors: Reporters wishing to cover this event should contact Valerie Phillips, DePaul Media Relations at 312/362-5039 (o); 312/330-3155 (cell) or by e-mail at vphillip@depaul.edu.