Obituary in memory of Yury Fedotov

Mr. Yury Fedotov, former Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has recently passed away at the age of 74. In this moment, Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) offers its solemn condolences for the loss of Mr. Fedotov, whose works have constituted a tremendous impact on the ASEAN and the international communities as a whole, and with whom we had many close collaboration that significantly shaped the Institute’s approach to the rule of law and criminal justice.

Mr. Fedotov had been a key in the ASEAN’s effort to strengthen the community’s criminal justice systems. From the Bangkok Dialogue on the Rule of Law in 2013, the Doha Crime Congress in 2015 to the TIJ’s admission into the UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network of Institutes (PNI), it can be said that TIJ owes much of its international presence to Mr. Fedotov, and that his support and commitment to the cause has inspired us to become what we are today. Mr. Fedotov was one of the key figures in spearheading the promise of the international standards and norms into regional and domestic practice. His recognition of the ASEAN community as a crucial partner in the global efforts to counter organized crimes and terrorism also played a critical role in setting the community on a course to the redoubling of its resolve to combat such threats.  

Mr. Fedotov continued to be a benefactor to TIJ on global justice and development agendas even after his time as the Executive Director of the UNODC. He provided us his insight in TIJ’s 10^th anniversary publication highlighting past achievement born of the long-lasting collaboration, and commitment to support our endeavours in many ways.

We are truly saddened by this great loss of a great figure, but nevertheless Mr. Fedotov will forever remain in our memory, and we are honored to have had the pleasure of working with him.