Paul van Zyl
Encyclopedia
Paul van Zyl grew up in South Africa
during the apartheid era. He spent many years actively opposing apartheid, and served as the Executive Secretary of South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission
from 1995 to 1998.
He received a law degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg
in 1996 and an LL.M. in international law from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands
in 1997. He also earned an LL.M. in corporate law from the NYU School of Law’s Hauser Global Law Scholar Program in 1999.
In 2001, Paul co-founded the International Center for Transitional Justice
(ICTJ), an international human rights
organization based in New York City
. Paul initially served as Program Director and Executive Vice President of ICTJ, in which he shared his expertise on delivering truth and justice to victims of mass human rights violations.
Paul has served as an adviser and consultant to many NGOs and governments on transitional justice
issues in countries including: Colombia
, Indonesia
, East Timor
, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2009 with Juan E. Mendez, the former ICTJ President, for their contributions to transitional justice. He also was awarded the 2009 Recent Graduate Award from NYU Law, and was chosen as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2008.
Currently, Paul is the CEO of PeaceVentures. He is a member of the Monitor Talent Network and the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Fragile States, and has been an adviser to the Sundance Documentary Film Program.
He is also currently the Director of New York University School of Law’s Transitional Justice Program and a professor of law in both New York
and Singapore
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the apartheid era. He spent many years actively opposing apartheid, and served as the Executive Secretary of South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid. Witnesses who were identified as victims of gross human rights violations were invited to give statements about their experiences, and some were selected...
from 1995 to 1998.
He received a law degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in 1996 and an LL.M. in international law from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1997. He also earned an LL.M. in corporate law from the NYU School of Law’s Hauser Global Law Scholar Program in 1999.
In 2001, Paul co-founded the International Center for Transitional Justice
International Center for Transitional Justice
The International Center for Transitional Justice was founded in 2001 as a non-profit organization dedicated to pursuing accountability for mass atrocity and human rights abuse through transitional justice mechanisms.-Mission statement:...
(ICTJ), an international human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organization based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Paul initially served as Program Director and Executive Vice President of ICTJ, in which he shared his expertise on delivering truth and justice to victims of mass human rights violations.
Paul has served as an adviser and consultant to many NGOs and governments on transitional justice
Transitional justice
Transitional justice generally refers to a range of approaches that states may use to address past human rights violations and includes both judicial and non-judicial approaches. They include series of actions or policies and their resulting institutions, which may be enacted at a point of...
issues in countries including: Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2009 with Juan E. Mendez, the former ICTJ President, for their contributions to transitional justice. He also was awarded the 2009 Recent Graduate Award from NYU Law, and was chosen as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2008.
Currently, Paul is the CEO of PeaceVentures. He is a member of the Monitor Talent Network and the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Fragile States, and has been an adviser to the Sundance Documentary Film Program.
He is also currently the Director of New York University School of Law’s Transitional Justice Program and a professor of law in both New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.