Martin Scheinin
| Martin Scheinin | |
|---|---|
Martin Scheinin in 2009
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| United Nations Special Rapporteur on Counter Terrorism and Human Rights | |
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In office 2005–2011 |
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| Preceded by | Post created |
| Succeeded by | Ben Emmerson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 4, 1954 Helsinki, Finland |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Residence | Florence, Italy |
| Education |
University of Turku, Finland University of Helsinki, Finland |
| Occupation | Professor of International Law and Human Rights, European University Institute, Florence, Italy |
Martin Scheinin (born 4 November 1954) was the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism in 2005-2011. He was selected for this position after serving for eight years (1997-2004) as member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the independent expert body monitoring states' compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. While on the Committee, he was known as a defendant of the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples and opponent of capital punishment, as well as the drafter of the Committee's General Comment No. 29 on states of emergency and one of 29 signatories to the Yogyakarta Principles.
Today he is a Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and an expert of international law, human rights and constitutional law. In 2010-2014 Scheinin was President of the International Association of Constitutional Law.
Scheinin was born on 4 November 1954 in Helsinki, Finland. He received his law degrees at the Universities of Turku (LL.M. 1982, LL.L. 1987) and Helsinki (J.D. 1991). Scheinin's doctoral dissertation was titled "Ihmisoikeudet Suomen oikeudessa" (Human Rights in the Legal System of Finland). He was active in Suomen Demokraattiset Lakimiehet (Democratic Lawyers of Finland) and was the association's chairperson in 1989.
Scheinin has defended Sami people's rights against mining and forestry activities in Angeli, Finland since the 1990s. He states that aboriginal people's rights are close to his heart.
Scheinin was awarded Amnesty International Finland's Candle Prize in 2011 for his long-term work for human rights, and more specifically for his work as a UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism in 2005-2011.
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