I was deeply saddened when I heard only this week of Nick’s untimely death. My hearfelt condolences go to his family.
I knew Nick well when he represented OHCHR in Bangkok, where I was the UN Resident Coordinator. I subsequently met up with him in Geneva, when I was passing through. I held him in the highest regard.
Nick was a good man, indeed an outstanding man, and a dynamic and insightful human rights advocate. He was deeply committed, highly knowledgeable and invariably constructive in his approach. He was, however, principled enough to realise – quite correctly I believe – that his scope for advocacy was greater outside than inside the UN, at least in the last few years.
Nick’s contribution will be greatly missed, but I have no doubt that he left his mark on a wide variety of collaborators and that his efforts will live on in the work of countless human rights workers around the world.