An honorary doctorate is a special academic distinction awarded to individuals who have made a lasting impact through their exceptional academic achievements, social influence or innovative leadership. By conferring this title, Erasmus School of Law recognises not only individual merit, but also the significance of their work for the development of the law, legal practice and society as a whole. We are delighted to introduce you to our honorary doctorates.
2016 - Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay
Inaugural Lecture: Human Rights and Migration
Former UN High Commissioner and human rights advocate Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay was invited to Erasmus University Rotterdam in recognition of her lifelong fight against inequality, injustice, and the violence perpetrated against vulnerable groups. In her lecture on Thursday 9 June 2016, Navi Pillay addressed challenges regarding the current refugee crisis.
On this occasion she received an honorary doctorate presented by honorary supervisors Karin Arts, Professor of International Law and Development at the International Institute of Social Studies, and Kristin Henrard, Professor of Human Rights and Minorities at the Erasmus School of Law, in recognition of her significant contributions to the human rights field, both in her native country, South Africa, and internationally.
In South Africa, Navi Pillay defended anti-apartheid activists, fought for better prison conditions for political activists, and has done important work to protect women against domestic violence. Internationally, she has received praise for her work as judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Pillay is currently a judge at the International Court of Justice in the case in which Myanmar is accused of genocide against the Rohingya. Previously, she served as a judge at the International Criminal Court and the Rwanda Tribunal, and as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Until recently, she was Chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and she is a Commissioner of the International Commission Against the Death Penalty.
In 2026 Pillay received the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay "for her dedication to promoting peace and international law". The jury praises her "extraordinary courage and integrity" and her "strong moral compass". According to the committee, Pillay has significantly expanded the scope and impact of international law by taking legal action against war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
2020 - Katharina Pistor
Katharina Pistor is a German-trained lawyer who has been affiliated with Columbia University since 2001. Prior, she worked among others at the Harvard Institute for International Development, Harvard Law School, the highly prestigious German Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, and the influential Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.
In 2019, Katharina Pistor published her book The Code of Capital: How the Law Creates Wealth and Inequality. In this book, she argues that the law selectively "codes" certain assets, endowing them with the capacity to protect and produce private wealth. With the right legal coding, any object, claim, or idea can be turned into capital and lawyers are the keepers of the code. The book paints a troubling portrait of the pervasive global nature of the code, the people who shape it, and the governments that enforce it. In het keynote Greening the Economy: Gimmick or Game Changer, Pistor she makes the green case for transforming capitalism. She explains that capitalism's rules systematically underprice environmental damage and shield asset holders from the true costs they create. Given nature's unforgiving constraints, we must fundamentally transform capitalism to secure the planet's long-term future.
Her honorary supervisors, Hélène Vletter-van Dort, Professor of Financial Law and Governance, and Fabian Amtenbrink, Professor of European Union Law, reflect on Pistor’s extraordinary contribution to the field: “She is an extraordinary bridge-builder between the legal and economic disciplines, and her theory on law and finance has revolutionised the way in which finance and financial market regulation must be understood. In her work, she also highlights the crucial point that even in the age of globalisation, politics and law can shape our economies and make them more effective when it comes to creating and distributing wealth and promoting equality; issues that also lie at the heart of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”
2024 – Koen Lenaerts
Koen Lenaerts is a leading Belgian lawyer and legal scholar who currently serves as President of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), a position he has held since 2015. Lenaerts is known and widely acclaimed for his sharp analytical mind and encyclopaedic knowledge, which extends far beyond EU law and reflects his intellectual curiosity. This is evident from his numerous leading academic publications on a wide range of subjects, in which he regularly bridges the gap between theory and legal practice.
His work has intellectually enriched generations of law students, academics and legal practitioners. In his capacity as a judge at the CJEU, he has, over the years, made a significant contribution to the development of the EU legal order in areas such as the protection of human rights and the rule of law, as well as general legal principles applicable to the actions of EU and national public authorities. In his public appearances, he strongly advocates for the independence of the judiciary and dialogue between the CJEU and the courts of the EU Member States.
Harriët Schelhaas, Dean of Erasmus School of Law, on honorary doctorate recipient Lenaerts: "The award of the honorary doctorate is a recognition of the exceptional contributions Prof. Lenaerts has made to his field. His work inspires us all and reflects the values of Erasmus School of Law: dedication, innovation and a deep-rooted pursuit of knowledge and progress. By awarding this honorary doctorate, Erasmus School of Law and Erasmus University Rotterdam also emphasise the importance of linking legal theory and legal practice, and the importance of the European legal order."