Pierre de Senarclens


Pierre de Senarclens is a Swiss humanitarian. He is honorary professor of international relations at the University of Lausanne, former vice-president of the Swiss Red Cross, former director of the human rights and peace division at UNESCO and one of the founders of the World Organization Against Torture.

Education and career

Pierre de Senarclens was born January 23, 1942, in Geneva. He did his gymnasium and high school studies in the classical section of the Collège Calvin. He obtained a law degree from the University of Geneva in 1964, a master's degree in 1968 from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, then in 1973 a doctorate in political science from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. He was professor of international relations at the University of Lausanne from 1974 to 2008. He was also the director of the division of human rights and peace at UNESCO from 1980 to 1983.

Humanitarian work

de Senarclens was vice-president of the Swiss Red Cross from 1999 to 2011 and ex-officio vice-president of the International Federation of the Red Cross from 2008 to 2011. He was one of the founders of World Organization Against Torture.

Private life

He is married to Bérengère de Senarclens, psychoanalyst. He is the father of three children, Vanessa, Alexandre and Frédéric.

Selected publications