De Visscher, Charles (02.08.1884 - 02.01.1973), Belgium.
Career:
- 1911-1930 Professor of Law in the University of Ghent, Belgium;
- 1920-194? Director of the "Revue de droit international et de législation comparée";
- 1925-1937 Secretary-General, Institut de droit international, President;
- 1923-1945 Member of the Permanent Court of International Arbitration;
- 1923, 1925, 1929 and 1935 Lecturer, Academy of International Law, The Hague;
- 1930-1973 Professor, University of Louvain;
- 1937-1946 Judge, Permanent Court of International Justice;
- 1940-1944 President, Political Movement for Resistance;
- 1944-1945 Minister without portfolio;
- 1945 Member, Committee of Jurists to draft statute of the International Court of Justice;
- 1946 Delegate, San-Francisco Conference; delegate, General Assembly;
- 1946-1952 Member, International Court of Justice;
- 1943-1973 Founding member of council, Royal Institute for International Relations;
- 1947-1958 Honourary president.
The theme of his career, unifying his teaching, scholarship, diplomatic activities, international outlook, and juridical accomplishments was the pursuit of the rule of law in relations between sovereign states.
During the interwar years, De Visscher participated in the League of Nations. He was rapporteur of the commission to amend the Covenant and of one to examine conciliation proceedings. In addition to joining the Permanent Court of Arbitration, he served as member or president of six permanent League of Nations commissions for conciliation between various European states.
He was elected to the Permanent Court of Justice in 1937, and sat upon the Court until its demise in 1946. He participated in the Comittee of Experts for the codification of international law. He represented Belgium at the 1945 Washington deliberation to create a new world court and at the San Francisco Conference to establish the United Nations. His participation in the first United Nations General Assembly ended with his election to the new International Court of Justice. After serving, 1946-1952, De Visscher resumed his scholarly endeavors in Brussels. His publications, nearly ninety in number, continued until his death.