William Schabas

William Schabas, born on November ninth, nineteen fifty, is a distinguished Canadian academic renowned for his expertise in international criminal and human rights law. He holds the position of professor of international law at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom and also teaches international human law and human rights at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Schabas is widely recognized as an authority on human rights law, genocide, and the death penalty.

In addition to his academic roles, Schabas contributes to various legal publications and organizations. He serves on the advisory board of the Israel Law Review and the Journal of International Criminal Justice, and he is the editor-in-chief of the Criminal Law Forum, the quarterly journal of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law. His commitment to human rights is further exemplified by his membership on the board of trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights.

Schabas has played significant roles in various truth commissions, including serving as one of seven commissioners on the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and as a commissioner on the Iran Tribunal Truth Commission in June two thousand twelve. His involvement in high-profile investigations continued when he was appointed in two thousand fourteen to lead a UN Committee examining Israel's actions during the Israel–Gaza conflict, a role that sparked controversy and led to his resignation in February two thousand fifteen.

In late two thousand nineteen, Schabas defended Myanmar at the International Court of Justice in The Hague against allegations of genocide concerning the Rohingya population, a case brought forth by the Republic of Gambia. His career reflects a deep commitment to addressing complex legal and ethical issues on the global stage.