Vera Gowlland-Debbas (22 September 1943 – 29 September 2015)
The ESIL Board was saddened to learn of the passing of Vera-Gowlland-Debbas. Vera was one of the founding members of the Society, offering major contributions from the outset; she participated in the meetings that led to the formation of the Society and was an active Board member from 2004 until 2010. In 2005 Vera was involved in organizing a highly successful ESIL Research Forum in Geneva. In November 2013, Vera delivered a wonderful ESIL lecture at the University of Geneva on the topic of collective security, a topic which was close to her heart and on which she was a leading scholar.
Vera was one of the leading international lawyers of her generation.  She set the standard as the superlative generalist, able to range across all of the discipline, and be universally regarded as a leading expert, if not the leading expert, in whatever areas of international law she wrote on.  This work included seminal contributions in diverse fields, notably international sanctions, human rights and refugee law, and the law of international organizations.
Vera has inspired many, inside and outside the Society. We will miss her and remember her with gratitude.
(André Nollkaemper, ESIL President)