Professor Christopher John Robert “John” Dugard, Extraordinary Professor of Law in the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, will receive one of South Africa’s highest civilian honours, the Order of the Baobab: Gold, in a ceremony conducted by President Jacob Zuma on Freedom Day, 27 April 2012.

The Order of the Baobab is awarded by the President to South African citizens for ‘distinguished service that goes beyond the call of duty’ and for exceptional contributions to the nation.

Prof Dugard will be recognised for his achievements in international law and, in particular, for his efforts in opposition to apartheid, his contributions to the establishment of the rule of law, his work in the field of human rights and his role in the creation of a free and democratic South Africa.

“Professor Dugard is an inspiration and role model for every academic, every lawyer and every citizen in South Africa,” said Prof Frans Viljoen, Director of the Centre for Human Rights. “His influence on legal education, on the legal profession, on our Constitution, on our society cannot be overstated. He literally wrote the book. We are extremely honoured to know and work with him, and we congratulate him on receiving an award he so richly deserves.”

Before joining the Centre for Human Rights in 2006, Prof Dugard was Chair of Public International Law at the University of Leiden (Netherlands); Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Witwatersrand, where he was also the founding Directorof the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS); and has held visiting faculty positions in Australia and England and at several universities in the United States. Prof Dugard on occasion acts as a Judge ad hoc on the International Court of Justice and previously served as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967 for the UN Human Rights Council. He also served for two terms (2001-2011) on the International Law Commission, the primary UN institution for the development of international law. He has written several books on apartheid, human rights and international law, and has coauthored textbooks on criminal law and procedure and international law.

More information on the Order of the Baobab can be found at http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/orders/boabab.htm.