Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos receives a medal by the President of the Hellenic Republic
At a special ceremony at the Presidential House, on Tuesday 5 April 2022, the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou conferred the medal of Grand Commander of the Order of the Redeemer to Linos-Alexander Sicilianos, Professor of Public International Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Athens, for his work, as a minimum recognition of his contribution.
Linos-Alexander Sicilianos is the first Greek national being elected President of the European Court of Human Rights during the 63-year functioning of this emblematic institution. During the decade 2011-2021, he left his imprint on the Court, critically contributing to some seminal judgments, leading the Court to important reformations, and promoting the dialogue among the Supreme Courts across Europe. For his contribution, Professor Sicilianos was awarded by the Hellenic Council of State in a special Plenary Session, in February 2020.
Professor Sicilianos’ presence with the European Court was the capstone of a unique and long course with International Organisations -the Council of Europe, the UN, the EU. As a member and Vice President of the UN Committee on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, he participated in the examination of Reports submitted by 120 States and he was appointed Rapporteur, among others, for the USA, the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, India, and France.
Such action is combined with a rich academic career. Being already a Corresponding member of the Academy of Athens and currently Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Athens, Professor Sicilianos also participates in the Curatorium of the Hague Academy of International Law. He is a member of the Institute of International Law, which gathers renowned international lawyers from around the world. He has received important international awards. In 2021, he was appointed Doctorate Honoris Causa with the Paris II University and he received the medal of the Legion of Honor by President Macron.
In her address, H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou highlighted among others that:
“…. Linos-Alexander Sicilianos, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Athens, who was the first Greek President of the European Court of Human Rights, in Strasbourg. For years he remains devoted and dedicated to the particular and sensitive field of human rights, while he has also served as an academic director of the “Alice Marangopoulos” foundation. His scientific work, in the Greek, English, and French languages, is devoted to public international law, contributing particularly in the promotion of human rights”.