Alumnus Cornelis de Boer receives honorable mention for the 2024 François Prize

Cornelis de Boer, alumnus of the Faculty of Law, has received an honorable mention for the prestigious 2024 François Prize. This prize, awarded by the Royal Netherlands Society of International Law (KNVIR), is presented every two years for the best master’s thesis on public or private international law in the Netherlands.

De Boer earned the honorable mention for his thesis titled "Perspectives on Advancing Protection for LGBTIQ+ Prisoners of War." His research examines the extent to which LGBTIQ+ prisoners of war are protected against inhumane treatment, threats, and discrimination. Supervised by Audrey Fino and co-reader Kilian Roithmaier, he brought attention to the gaps in current humanitarian law regarding the protection of this vulnerable group.

Through meticulous analysis, De Boer highlighted the lack of explicit protections for LGBTIQ+ prisoners of war and argued that a broader interpretation of existing humanitarian law could enhance their protection. By linking humanitarian and human rights law, he envisions a future where the rights of LGBTIQ+ prisoners are more thoroughly safeguarded.

The jury, chaired by Prof. G.R. de Groot, commended De Boer for his thorough and original research. “This is a remarkable and forward-thinking piece of research, pushing the boundaries of humanitarian and human rights law and advancing the conversation around the protection of vulnerable groups in conflict situations,” the jury report stated.

The François Prize itself was awarded this year to Lautaro Melcón from Utrecht University for his research on the fine line between taxation and pillage by rebel groups. The KNVIR emphasized the significance of both of these studies for the future of international law and congratulated both students on their achievements.

For more information on the prize, this year's jury report and what they said on Cor's Masters' thesis, see the website of the KNVIR. Read Cornelis de Boer's full thesis here.

This article was published by the Faculty of Law.