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65/66/67 ICJ Newsl. 1 (1996)

handle is hein.icj/icjnews0065 and id is 1 raw text is: Th Cetr fo th Indpnec I fne anIayr No 65/6/6 Octbe 1996e'I In Memoriam Niall MacDermot, OBF(Mil), CBE, QC Human Rights Pioneer and Former Secretary-General, Dies Member and former Secretary- General of the International Commis- sion of Jurists between 1970-1990, Niall MacDermot, OBE (Mil), CBE, QC, passed away in the early hours of Thursday 23 February 1996. Niall was an internationally recog- nised and respected British jurist. Born in Dublin in 1916, he studied law at Oxford. In World War II, he served as a Lieutenant-Colonel and was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his role in the D-Day operations in Normandy. After the war, he was called to the English j Bar and, in 1963, became a Queen's Counsel. He was twice a Member of the UK House of Commons (1957-59 and 1962-70). He was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1964-1967) and Minister of State for Planning and Land in the Government of Mr. Harold Wilson. At dire times when most were silent, Niall stood up to dictators to defend the .-. oppressed. Never one to shy away from unpopular causes, he was driven by unfal- tering ideals and utmost respect for legali- ty. Due to his legal skills and scholarship, he was a prime force behind the drafting of many international instruments, notably to prevent torture and arbitrary detention. Deeply committed to universal- ity and equality, he worked to develop human rights in the South and established Niall MacDermot will continue to inspire new generations practical programmes to help the disad- of human rights defenders. vantaged and poor. <He was the mentor and protector of human rights activists the world over, , said his spiritual son, Mr. Adama Dieng, the current Secretary-General. «He inspired all of us with his elegance, strength and fairness. He devoted his life to protecting others and we pledge to carry on his fight for liberty and justice for all people.,, A memorial meeting was held on 17 April 1996 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, with the participation of Argen- tinean pianist Miguel Angel Estrella. The Executive Committee unanimous- ly acknowledged in a resolution that it was through Niall's contribution in building up and sustaining the ICJ that it became a leading NGO. To honour Niall's memory, the Executive Committee decided that the Commission's Third World internship pro- gramme be named the «Niall MacDermot Internship/ Scholarships,, and that the Geneva authorities be approached to request the planting of a tree with an inscription in a public park of the city. Our deepest condolences go to Niall's wife, Mrs. Ludmila MacDermot, and his son, John. We will always remember Niall's vigour and commitment to the Rule of Law and Human Rights. We will find solace and strength in his legacy and always be enriched and guided by his vision of eternity. Good bye Niall! ICJ ewsletter N 65/66/67/1996

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