The Special Tribunal for Lebanon announced today on its website the death of the tribunal’s first Registrar Robin Vincent, calling his contribution to the establishment of the Tribunal ” invaluable”
It is with great sadness that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon announces the death of Mr Robin Vincent, the tribunal’s first Registrar.
Mr Vincent was appointed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in March 2008. As Registrar Mr Vincent was instrumental in the establishment of the tribunal and the start of its work. He prepared the tribunal’s premises, coordinated the transition from the UN International Independent Investigation Commission to the STL, recruited core staff, and finalised the STL’s first budget.
“It is with profound grief that I have learned of Robin’s passing away”, said the STL President, Judge Antonio Cassese. “He was an excellent and dedicated manager, who, as the first Registrar of the STL, worked incessantly to make it possible for the Tribunal to get off the ground.”
“His contribution to the establishment of the Tribunal is invaluable. He was always ready to listen to the suggestions and proposals of others. He was an exceedingly amiable man.”
Mr Vincent had a long and distinguished career in justice, first in the UK and then internationally. After his career in the UK, Mr Vincent was appointed registrar of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. He also served as the acting Deputy Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and as an adviser to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He advised on the establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the STL and on the functioning of the Iraqi High Tribunal.
Mr Vincent’s commitment to international criminal justice was brought to an end by ill health.
“The death of Robin Vincent is a very sad day for everyone who has been working in the field of international and transitional justice”, said the Registrar of the STL, Herman von Hebel.
“The dedication to his work, his enormous energy, his creativity and last but not least his strong sense of humor made him a major figure in this field. Robin Vincent’s family and friends are in our thoughts at this difficult time.”
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