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In Memory of Our Friend and Colleague
Diana Ilies Ngbokoto
IAWJ Program Coordinator
It is with great sorrow that the IAWJ announces the death of our colleague and friend, Diana Ilies Ngbokoto, on March 11, 2005.
Diana was a beautiful, bright, talented young woman who contributed much to the work of the IAWJ. Of all of us on staff she had worked with the IAWJ longest. Diana began her work with the IAWJ in 1999, first as the IAWJ Membership Coordinator and more recently as the Program Coordinator for the Jurisprudence of Equality Program in Africa and Central America. A talented linguist, when we needed someone with Spanish skills, we arranged for tutoring, she studied and picked up the language - her 4th. Many IAWJ members know her and have worked with her long distance. As the Jurisprudence of Equality Program Coordinator she managed all the day-to-day coordination of JEP Africa and Central America with great organizational skills. But most of all she was a valued and dear colleague.
Diana was only 32 and the mother of four young children, ranging in age from 8 to 2. She cared about them deeply and juggled all the responsibilities of mothering while working with us full-time as well. She was also an extremely talented and creative artist, who designed jewelry and used her commitment to the global community by transforming beads she collected from around the world into wearable art.
Originally from Romania, Diana studied in Switzerland where she earned a B.A. in Business Economics with a concentration in Management, finishing with a thesis on African economics. After coming to the U.S., she worked with several NGOs that focused on development issues in Africa. Her varied background gave her a unique perspective on issues of human rights, development and justice.
In addition to her four children, Diana is survived by her parents from Romania, and her brother, sister-in-law and niece from Virginia.
Diana was a victim of domestic violence, the very thing the IAWJ is working so hard to end. In our work we talk every day about the issues of violence against women that are pervasive throughout the world. Diana was committed to her work with the JEP program and to working with our members throughout the world as we each try to do what we can to end this kind of violence. It is hard to believe that even within our midst this has occurred, but it makes our work seem even more urgent and real.
Earlier in the evening of March 10th, the IAWJ hosted a special event in Washington. For all of us who were at that special event, we are thankful that our last memories of Diana are ones of a lovely, poised, warm and gracious woman who was very special to all of us. We miss her dearly.
Funeral services for Diana were held on Monday, March 21 at the Romanian Orthodox Church in Alexandria, VA.
The IAWJ has established a memorial fund to honor Diana. Checks may be made out to: "IAWJ - Diana Fund." Contributions may also be made at the IAWJ website at Diana's Fund.
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