Richard J. Goldstone is a distinguished retired judge from South Africa, renowned for his unwavering commitment to human rights and international justice. Serving as a judge for 23 years, including nine years as a Justice of the Constitutional Court, Goldstone has left an indelible mark on the legal landscape of his country and internationally. For several years he was the President of ICTJ’s former Advisory Board, contributing to the advancement of the organization.
Following his retirement from the bench, Goldstone transitioned into academia, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience as a visiting professor at numerous United States and European Law Schools. He holds the esteemed position of Honorary President of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association and serves as deputy-chair of Integrity Initiatives International.
Goldstone's dedication to advancing international justice is evident through his various leadership roles. He chaired the Independent Expert Review Group, established by the Assembly of States Parties, to review the International Criminal Court and Rome Statue system.
Notably, from August 1994 to September 1996, Goldstone served as the chief prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, playing a pivotal role in prosecuting perpetrators of grave human rights violations. He also chaired the International Independent Inquiry on Kosovo from August 1999 to December 2001, further solidifying his reputation as a champion of justice on the global stage.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Goldstone has been honored with numerous awards, including the prestigious International Human Rights Award of the American Bar Association in 1994. He is an esteemed international honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an honorary member of the New York City Bar, an honorary Bencher of the Inner Temple in London, and an honorary fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge.
Goldstone's scholarly works, including "For Humanity: Reflections of a War Crimes Investigator" (Yale University Press, 2001) and "International Judicial Institutions: the Architecture of International Justice at Home and Abroad" (Routledge, 2015), further showcase his dedication to promoting accountability and upholding the rule of law on a global scale.
