Remembering Evelyn Dürmayer

Our friend and colleague, Evelyn Dürmayer, suddenly passed away on her way to Buenos Aires after attending the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Evelyn was widely known as an active member of civil society, representing the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) at the United Nations Office in Vienna. She led its gender programme and edited The International Review of Contemporary Law. As Chair of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna (2021–2025), she guided an ambitious programme of meetings and events to promote gender equality, human rights and to end gender-based violence.

A lawyer and scholar with a distinguished interdisciplinary background in law, French studies, and gender studies, she practiced labour and commercial law in Vienna from 1976 to 2011, after earning her Doctorate in Law from the University of Vienna. She later completed advanced degrees in French and Gender Studies, culminating in a PhD focused on French as the sole working language at the Court of Justice of the European Union.

She left Vienna for New York full of enthusiasm and plans for the future—plans that we will continue to pursue in her memory, honoring her commitment and legacy.

Evelyn was an active and engaged participant in Alliance activities over many years, including leading the nominations committee and taking an prominent role in other events and engagements. 

She will be greatly missed. 

26 Mar, 2026