Commission mourns passing of Commissioner Jeremy Pope

Jeremy Web Commission mourns passing of Commissioner Jeremy Pope

Jeremy Pope, Human Rights Commissioner

Jeremy Pope, ONZM, a Human Rights Commissioner, lawyer and co-founder of Transparency International, an anti-corruption watchdog, has passed away today.

Mr Pope, a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and Barrister-at-Law with the English bar, joined the Commission in January 2008. He has provided his advice and expertise to the Commission on litigation strategy, criminal justice issues and has been a lead Commissioner on the right to an adequate standard of living project.

Chief Commissioner David Rutherford said, “We feel for Jeremy’s family and many friends. I count myself fortunate to be amongst the many people to have learned much from this great New Zealander. His perspective and knowledge will be missed by all of us.”

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Judy McGregor said that she had great respect for Mr Pope’s experience, expertise and commitment to human rights. “Jeremy championed the civil and political rights of New Zealanders, supported the strengthening of parliamentary democracy, and had an interest in progressive penal reform. We will greatly miss his courage, good humour and gentle wisdom.”

Mr Pope spent 10 years in private practice in New Zealand and 17 years with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London as well as working for various NGOs. He was editor of the New Zealand Law Journal and the Commonwealth Law Bulletin for many years. He was the founding managing director of NGOs Transparency International and later TIRI. He was also a founding trustee of INTERIGHTS, a group that monitors human rights observance and provides practical material to assist with enforcing observance through judicial systems, and a trustee of the International Records Management Trust, which works with governments to promote open government and trustworthy information.

Mr Pope has assisted election commissions in Africa and Asia and worked as an anti-corruption consultant to the President of the World Bank as well as a United Nations advisor on containing internal corruption. He is a former member of the State Services Commission Advisory Committee on Trust in Government.

Along with his wife Diana, Mr Pope was the author of a series of much respected travel guides to New Zealand.

Mr Pope is survived by his wife Diana, children Adam, Jemima and Samuel, and grandchildren Jessica and Miki.

 

In memory of Jeremy and his contributions

 

 

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