Title: 

Honoring the extraordinary life of Felipe Michelini

Image Credit: TFV ICC
Author: 
Coalition for the ICC

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court is deeply saddened by the passing, on Sunday 19 April 2020, of Mr. Felipe Michelini, and would like to extend his family our deepest condolences over the loss of this extraordinary individual.

Mr. Michelini made an indisputable contribution to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Rome Statute system. As a Member of Parliament in Uruguay, where he served for over two decades, Mr. Michelini spearheaded one of the strongest legislations on ICC implementation across the globe, and, as Member of Parliamentarians for Global Action and Chair of the International Law and Human Rights Program, took his experience and enthusiasm across Latin America, working along parliamentarians and civil society across the region to assist states in their tasks of ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute, APIC, Kampala amendments, among other ICC-related objectives. In addition, in 2015, Mr. Michelini was elected as Member of the Board of Directors of the ICC’s Trust Fund for Victims, which he had been chairing since 2018, serving with the excellence, dedication, and empathy that always characterized him.

His outstanding legal, diplomatic and negotiation skills were only superseded by his generous heart and his unique personality, which lead him to build bridges across different political spectrums and among diverse actors, including civil society across the globe. We join our worldwide membership in honoring his extraordinary life and contributions, and are committed to continuing his legacy in our unfettered defense of justice and human rights.

Messages from Civil Society and States

Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC

Pieter de Baan,Executive Director, TFV

Luis Lacalle Pou, President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Liechtenstein to the UN

William R. Pace, former CICC Convenor (1995-2019)

"Felipe was an extraordinary leader, politician, public servant.  His death is heartbreaking.  Felipe is exactly the kind of leader the world needs in these awful and turbulent times. His contributions at the national, regional and international communities will be honored for years to come.  The Coalition and all of us who knew him were blessed to have his support and to work with him."

Michelle Reyes Milk, Americas Coordinator, Coalition for ICC

Amnesty Uruguay

Redress

Alix Vuillemin Grendel, Senior Advocacy Adviser - Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice

Deborah RuizVerduzco, Head of Civil Society Initiatives, International Commission on Missing Persons

International Criminal Court: Passing of Felipe Michelini, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims at the International Criminal Court

Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA): In Memoriam of Felipe Michelini – An unforgettable leader in the fight for justice, truth and human rights

Presidential Statement: The MERCOSUR Parliament expresses its deep sorrow for the death of Dr. Felipe Michelini