The Joshua Heintz Award for Humanitarian Achievement was bestowed on M. Cherif Bassiouni, distinguished research professor of law emeritus, at the Robert H. Jackson Center.
The ceremony was held at a dinner that kicked off the Jackson Center's sixth annual International Humanitarian Law Dialogues, hosted at the Chautauqua Institution. The dialogues help advance the work of Robert H. Jackson and the Nuremberg trials as the genesis of modern international criminal law.
M. Cherif Bassiouni is a distinguished research professor of law emeritus, and founder and president emeritus of the International Human Rights Law Institute, DePaul University College of Law. Bassiouni has previously served as member and then as chairman of the Security Council's Commission to investigate war crimes in the former Yugoslavia in 1992-93; the Commission on Human Rights' Independent Expert on The Rights to Restitution, Compensation and Rehabilitation for Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms from 1998 to 2000; vice chairman of the General Assembly's Ad Hoc Committee on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court in 1995; and chairman of the Drafting Committee of the 1998 Diplomatic Conference on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court.
Article Photos
Cherif Bassiouni and David Crane are pictured during a dinner at the Robert H. Jackson Center. Bassiouni was given the Joshua Heintz Award for Humanitarian Achievement during the dinner.
P-J photo by Ryan Atkins
In 1999, Bassiouni was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to international criminal justice and the creation of the International Criminal Court. He has received numerous medals and awards for his service to the international community.
The Joshua Heintz Award for Humanitarian Achievement's benefactor is Joshua Heintz of Syracuse. Heintz is a partner at Gilberti, Stinziano, Heintz & Smith, P.C. Outside of his law practice, Heintz is passionate about creating avenues for institutions of higher education to serve the community at large. He was a principle figure in the creation of the Syracuse University College of Law's internationally recognized Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism. Heintz also serves on the Syracuse University board of trustees and is also on the Robert H. Jackson Center board.
The inscription made on the crystal obelisk presented by Joshua Heintz honored Bassiouni as "A compassionate visionary dedicated to the pursuit of justice who leaves a legacy in international humanitarian law."