Jean Zermatten

Who is Jean Zermatten?

Jean Zermatten is a specialist of children's rights. He's the son of the Swiss writer Maurice Zermatten. He's Chairman of the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child. He's the first Swiss member of this Committee.

After studying Law at the University of Fribourg, he became clerk, and later “ad hoc” judge at the Criminal Court for Juveniles in Fribourg. Then he's President and Dean of the Juvenile Court of the Canton of Valais during 25 years. Between 1989 and 1999, he held lectures at the University of Fribourg. In 2005, he founded the International Institute for the Rights of the Child which he still leads today. He is active in the direction of academics programms concerning children's rights and protection too.

Jean Zermatten is a member of the UN Committee for the Rights of the Child, since 2005 ; he has been elected as the Chairperson of this UN Treaty body, on May 2011.

In 2007, he receveid the title of Doctor honoris causa from the University of Fribourg.

Jean Zermatten also contributed to draft law projects:

charged by the Swiss Confederation to draft a Project for the 1st unified Law for the criminal Procedure for Minors