Theo van Boven Fund

The Theo van Boven Fund was established on 28 November 2012 by the Faculty of Law. With the establishment of this fund, the Faculty of Law expresses its great respect for Theo van Boven and wishes to promote the sustainability of his legacy.

Prof. Mr Th. C. van Boven (1934 – 2026) was a Dutch jurist and Emeritus Professor of International Law at Maastricht University. Internationally renowned for his work with the United Nations, he was a tireless champion of human rights, minority rights, and the eradication of discrimination. Over the course of his distinguished career, he received widespread recognition and numerous honours in acknowledgement of his exceptional dedication and contributions.

The Theo van Boven Fund has the following specific objectives:

• to promote and support projects in the field of human rights, including the fight against discrimination and social exclusion and the right of victims of human rights violations to rehabilitation and compensation;
• to promote and support academic education, research and knowledge dissemination in the field of law by staff and students of the Faculty of Law at Maastricht University.

Spending committee

The fund has an advisory committee that assesses how the Theo van Boven Fund is spent. This committee consists of:

• Mr. Prof. Dr. A. Coomans;
• Mr. J. Janssen (alumnus);
• Ms. Prof. Dr. L. Lijnzaad.