Honoring the extraordinary life of Felipe Michelini
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His outstanding legal, diplomatic and negotiation skills were only superseded by his generous heart and his unique personality, which lead him to build bridges across different political spectrums and among diverse actors, including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
Board of Directors and staff at Trust Fund for Victims @TFV_FPV @IntlCrimCourt mourn with deep regret the untimely passing of Felipe Michelini, Chair of the Board.We are all in shock from the sudden loss of
Felipe’s warmth, engagement and leadership. † May his soul rest in peace pic.twitter.com/gr2OGk23xU— TrustFundforVictims (@TFV_FPV) April 20, 2020
Pieter de Baan,Executive Director, TFV
Devastated by the sudden passing of @TFV_FPV Chair Felipe Michelini.
Solidarity, leadership, passion for improvement.
A true human rights defender and a champion of the Rome Statute’s reparative justice system
My thoughts are with Felipe’s family. May his soul rest in peace.— Pieter de Baan (@Pieter_deBaan) April 19, 2020
Luis Lacalle Pou, President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Con Felipe Michelini me unía una relación de afecto y de respeto.
Siempre mesurado y afable. Lo vamos a extrañar. Un abrazo a su familia y amigos.
QEPD.— Luis Lacalle Pou (@LuisLacallePou) April 19, 2020
Liechtenstein to the UN
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Felipe Michelini, Chair of the #ICC Trust Fund for Victims @TFV_FPV, a true advocate for the rights of victims and survivors of the worst international crimes.
— Liechtenstein UN (@LiechtensteinUN) April 20, 2020
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
Felipe tenía muchas facetas, y todas las hacía con excelencia, dedicación y un gran. En nuestro trabajo conjunto x la justicia I’ y la CPI, nos tocó recorrer la region juntos x + de 10 años, un verdadero honor. Adiós querido amigo, siempre honraremos tu legado pic.twitter.com/ESEVoDy8wy
— Michelle Reyes Milk (@mreyesmilk) April 19, 2020
Amnesty Uruguay
Ante el fallecimiento de Felipe Michelini, desde Amnistía Internacional Uruguay expresamos nuestras condolencias y reiteramos nuestra solidaridad con sus familiares y amistades.
Comunicado completo https://t.co/Mq2JTMDxrx
Fotografía:@montesdeoca930 pic.twitter.com/dBOw3xPfT8— AI Uruguay (@amnistiauruguay) April 19, 2020
Redress
Very sad news on the passing of Felipe Michelini. Thank you, Felipe, for your contribution to advance the ICC reparations mandate as @TFV_FPV Board Chair, and for your work to fight impunity for grave crimes around the world. https://t.co/goyuJucQjY
— REDRESS (@REDRESSTrust) April 20, 2020
Alix Vuillemin Grendel, Senior Advocacy Adviser - Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice
Terribly sad news - Felipe Michelini, @TFV_FPV Board Chair and @PGAction figurehead passed away this weekend. It was an honor to work with him and I will remember him as an inspiring, kind and determined advocate for justice. pic.twitter.com/l4LD03ZWsp
— Alix Vuillemin Grendel (@AlixVuillemin) April 20, 2020
Deborah RuizVerduzco, Head of Civil Society Initiatives, International Commission on Missing Persons
The death of Uruguayan human rights lawyer, my friend, Felipe Michelini, is an enormous loss for a multigenerational and global community of lawyers and activists.More than ever we should redouble efforts to realize his projects in favor of the victims of the most serious crimes. pic.twitter.com/QIbUoBwJ36
— Deborah RuizVerduzco (@DebRuizVerduzco) April 19, 2020
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
