Private international law expert recognised by Irish government

Professor William Duncan

Professor William Duncan received the award in the category of “Peace, Reconciliation and Development” in recognition of his years of dedication to academia and law reform in Ireland, as well as his involvement with the HCCH, first as a delegate and later as a member of the permanent bureau.

The Presidential Distinguished Service Award was established by the Irish government following the 2011 Global Irish Economic Forum as a means to recognise the contribution of members of the Irish diaspora, and the first awards were made in 2012.

The official awards ceremony has been postponed until 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Duncan has long been actively involved in the HCCH and its work. From 1989, he contributed to the work of the HCCH as an expert and delegate, bringing his expertise as both an academic and law reform commissioner. In this capacity he played a key role in the negotiations of both the 1993 Adoption and 1996 Child Protection Conventions.

In 1997, he joined the HCCH’s permanent bureau as first secretary, and was deputy secretary general from 2002 until his retirement in 2011. He had primary responsibility for the HCCH Children’s Conventions, and for the negotiations of the 2000 Adults Convention, 2007 Child Support Convention, and its Protocol. He developed globally acclaimed programmes to support the operation of the HCCH Children’s Conventions in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, as well as the Malta Process dialogue with legal systems across the Mediterranean.

In Ireland, Professor Duncan has been credited with pioneering the development of family law and a strong campaigner for family law reform. He was a professor of law at Trinity College Dublin, a member of the Law Reform Commission and was until recently one of the commissioners of the Irish Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters.

In a statement, the permanent bureau of the HCCH said it “congratulates Professor Duncan on being awarded this prestigious honour, testament to his lifelong commitment to justice for all”.