Theo van Boven, a Dutch jurist and professor emeritus in international law, died on May 9, 2026.
He was appointed in 1977 as director of the United Nations Division for Human Rights, a precursor of the UN Human Rights Office. From 1986 to 1991, he served as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Reparation to Victims of Gross Violations of Human Rights, and from 2001 to 2004 as Special Rapporteur on Torture.
He was also a member of the International Commission of Jurists and served from February to December 1994 as the first registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Theo van Boven, 91–92, Dutch jurist.