Max van der Stoel Award 2015 for PhD research Lorena Sosa at INTERVICT

Lorena Sosa combined theoretical and empirical research in an innovative interdisciplinary way, according to the Jury led by Prof. Emeritus of Human Rights Law Jenny Goldschmidt of Utrecht University, to arrive at recommendations for the implementation of ‘intersectionality’ in the existing legal framework. Intersectionality means that additional factors that influence violence against women are taken into account, such as religion, social status, ethnicity and age.

The Jury concluded that Arne Vandenboogaerde offered refreshing and well founded perspectives for change in his study into the accountability of states, international organizations, and companies regarding social and economic rights.

Vandenboogaerde and Sosa each received 1,500 euro. The second prize in the category PhD dissertation (1,000 euro) was awarded to Krit Jan Zeegers of the University of Amsterdam, for his research into human rights obligations in international criminal law.

The first prize for Master’s theses (750 euro) went to Yussef Al Tamimi (VU Amsterdam) and his thesis The protection of vulnerable groups and individuals by the European Court of Human Rights. The second prize (250 euro) was for Statelessness and Transnational Migration in the Asean Region by Sangita Jahai (Tilburg University).

On the Max van der Stoel Award

The Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award was established by Tilburg University and, for several years now, has been awarded by the School of Human Rights Research. Since 2002, this award has been called the Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award, in honour of the man who, in that year, left Tilburg University as professor of International Law and who had proven to be an indefatigable champion of human rights. Max van der Stoel (1924-2011) exerted himself as a politician, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, and UN Rapporteur on Human Rights.