Oswaldo Ruiz-Chiriboga, Assistant Professor of International Human Rights Law unexpectedly and prematurely died on Saturday, 20 November 2021.
Born in Ecuador, Oswaldo Ruiz-Chiriboga joined CEU's Legal Studies Department in 2018, having received his Doctorate from the University of Ghent. The work explored the human rights implications of legal pluralism in Ecuador, incorporating many conversations with members of indigenous communities, communal leaders, national judges, prosecutors, academics and practitioners. His PhD both drew upon his previous career—as Senior Legal Officer at the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) as well as Senior Staff Attorney at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights —and pointed towards the future.
A gifted teacher, Ruiz-Chiriboga remained deeply involved in the law and politics of his home country and continent. This included litigating cases before Inter-American human rights institutions and running an influential blog on constitutional and human rights issues in the region. At CEU, he taught classes inter alia on Inter-American Human Rights Law, indigenous peoples' rights, cultural rights, and socio-economic rights.
Ruiz-Chiriboga leaves behind his wife, Gina Donoso and son, Robi, as well as the many students and colleagues who respected him as teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend.
"We are deeply moved and shocked by this loss", said Mathias Möschel, Head of Department. "We will all miss Oswaldo, his engagement, his academic rigor, his warmth and humor, along with that wonderful "Latin touch" he brought to CEU."