One of the world's foremost penal law experts, Françoise Tulkens has brought a new awareness of the need to protect human rights.
Born in Brussels in 1942, she earned a doctorate in law at an early age. Early in her career, she became a member of the bar in Brussels, was named research fellow at the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique and, subsequently, professor in the law faculty of the Université catholique de Louvain.
Throughout her years of dedicated work, she earned an enviable reputation through her articles and reference volumes, and her collaboration with academic colleagues on research projects dealing with penal law and immigration. In fact, the University of Ottawa has had the pleasure of receiving her several times as an invited professor.
Three years ago, she moved to Strasbourg as a member of the panel of the European Court of Human Rights.