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JORGE CARDONA, born in Valencia on 30 April 1957, is a prestigious International Law jurist, (A) a specialist in, among other areas, human rights, (B) with a special focus on the rights of the child (C) as reflected by his career in teaching (i) and research, (ii), in the field of international practice and in development cooperation (iii).

(A) Dr. Jorge Cardona teaches Public International Law since 1980

(i) He received the Special National Award (1980) and Special National PhD Award in Law at the University of Valencia (1984). The candidate has taught International Law at the Spanish Universities of Valencia (1980-1984, 1985-95, and since 2008), Alicante (1984-85), and Jaume I in Castellón (1995-2008). Director of the International Law Section at the Bancaja International Centre for  Peace and Development (since 1997). Henri Rolin Chair at the Universities of Louvain-La-Neuve and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2009). Jean Monnet Chair in Community Law (since 1997). Chairman of the Mediterranean Institute of European Studies (since 1999). Chairman of the Centre for Studies on Law and International Relations (since 2007). DIrector of the UN Depository Library of the University of Valencia (since 2008). Director of Bancaja Euro-Mediterranean Courses in International Law (which has been recognised by the UNESCO with the Mahatma Gandhi Gold Medal for Peace). Invited Professors in several European, American and African Universities

(ii) Author of nearly 150 publications on International Law, in particular on: the Law of Treaties, the Law of International Responsibility, the Law of International Organisations, human rights, and peacekeeping and international security.

(iii) UNESCO Special Advisor on: “Works of the Spirit as Common Heritage of Mankind” (1999-2000); Agent for the Kingdom of Spain before the International Court of Justice in the case of the Declaration of Independence of Kosovo; and Legal Adviser to different States on international affairs with in advisory and contentious cases.

(B) Dr. Jorge Cardona is an specialist in the field of Human Rights

(i) He is a member of the Scientific Board of the Master on Human Rights, Peace and Sustainable Development of the University of Valencia, as well as for the International Doctorate Programme on Human Rights.

(ii) Among the R+D projects specially related to the human rights, it could be mentioned among others: “The protection of vulnerable individuals and groups in International and European Law”, “Vulnerability by reason of age, disability, immigration, gender, imprisonment and refuge. Study of International and European protection”; “Armed Conflicts, Peacekeeping and Transitional Justice: Law as Solution (ATLAS)”(with special reference to the protection of the rights of women and children in armed conflict and post-conflict situations); and “International and European Protection of the rights of individuals with disabilities”.

(iii) Former member of the Comisión de Notables appointed by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for the study of the reform of the Inter-American System of Human Rights (1999-2001) and his condition of Legal Expert of the Conference of Ibero-American Ministers of Justice (COMJIB) in the human rights field (since 2008). Member of the Board of Trustees and Director of the Foundation for Justice Projects (a human rights NGO) and director of the UN-I-MON Project carried out by the UNHCR, the University of Valencia and the Valencian Regional Government.

(C) Specifically in relation to the Rights of the Child, Dr. Jorge Cardona has a wide experience:

(i) In the teaching field, he has been collaborating for many years in the course for the University Diploma of the Rights of the Child, organised by the University of Valencia, in collaboration with UNICEF.

(ii) In the field of research, within the framework of the ATLAS Research Project on Transnational Justice, he has researched in particular the EU’s action respecting and ensuring respect for the rights of the child in conflict and post-conflict situations, specially in missions to restore the Rule of Law. He also participates in projects on the rights of individuals (and children, particularly) with disabilities.

(iii) In the field of international practise, could be underlined his activities as Rapporteur and drafter, within COMJIB, on the Promotion and protection of human rights of persons of minors within the framework of the criminal process, or on the Promotion and protection of human rights of the victims of crime within the framework of judicial process, with special reference to victims of gender offences. Drafter of the relevant proposal of recommendation approved by the Ibero-American Ministers of Justice. Member of the Committee appointed by the Secretariat of the Ibero-American Youth Organisation (OIJ) for the monitoring of the compliance by States of the Ibero-American Convention on Young People’s Rights (2010). Within the development cooperation field, he participates in the following projects which are particularly related to the rights of the child: “Programme to reduce traditional harmful practices for women”, in collaboration with the Kembetta Women’s Self Help Centre (KMG) in Ethiopia; or he cooperates with the “Diamond Child” in Sierra Leone. In Spain, he further collaborates in several projects relating to social integration of minors’ offenders, educational integration of children with Down Syndrome and support for autistic children and their families.