"Today is a very special day for us. We are celebrating the entry of a new and distinguished member into our academic community, with the conferral of the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa on Professor António Monteiro Rodrigues, a prominent figure in the field of labour law, recognised in Portugal, Europe and beyond, as a great driving force and reference for this very important legal discipline", stressed the Rector of NOVA University of Lisbon, João Sàágua, at the beginning of the ceremony, which took place this Monday the 6th, in the auditorium of the NOVA Rectory.
"The awarding of the Doctorate Honoris Causa", recalled the Rector, "is a tradition of great importance and relevance in academia throughout the world,
as it is the highest honour that a university can bestow. At NOVA, this unique recognition celebrates the extraordinary achievements of individuals whose activities have had or are having a major impact on society, not only through the advancement of knowledge, but also through the promotion of social justice and the inspiration of future generations. (...) And this is very much the case with our laureate today, Prof. António Monteiro Rodrigues. With this award, Universidade NOVA pays tribute in particular to a life dedicated to research, teaching and the defence of human dignity, expressed through "dignity at work".
n front of an audience of important friends (rejoicing judge and professor João Caupers, lawyer António Garcia Pereira... ) and other personalities such as Jorge Costa (Vice-Rector of the ISCTE, representing the Rector, Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues); Viriato Reis (Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court); Manuel Joaquim de Oliveira Pinto Hespanhol (retired judge of the Supreme Court); Isílio Coelho (Executive Secretary of the CPLP - Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries); and Kateřina Bocianova (Embassy of the Czech Republic), took the stage after the godfather, José João Abrantes, President of the Constitutional Court, who proposed the award.
"It is not possible in such a short time to capture the entire multifaceted dimension of the life and work of Professor António Monteiro Fernandes: a leading name in labour law, well known in the country and abroad, where he is considered the founding father of this discipline in our country. He is a respected academic, an excellent researcher, the author of a vast body of work and a great teacher with more than 50 years of teaching experience," said José João Abrantes, recalling that after the restoration of democracy in 1974, António Monteiro Fernandes was at the forefront of modern Portuguese criminal law and became the intellectual author of many of the current labour laws. He was also the only Portuguese to have served on the highest body of the International Labour Organisation.
Finally, he praised his "humanism and his commitment to affirming the dignity of work" - as well as his collaboration in the creation of a law school in 1996 - the Faculty of Law of the NOVA University Lisbon/ NOVA School of Law - "aimed at reforming traditional education and training lawyers open to the world and to life, prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century".
Faced with such public recognition, António Monteiro Fernandes spared no time in thanking the immense affectionate words dedicated to him – but also the life circumstances that allowed such a journey.
Remembering that he had not completed a “laboris causa doctorate”, which did not prevent him from “dedicating a good part of his life to the learning process”, he assumes that he has a “reasonably clear notion of what he did”, considering that he is far, “below what I could have done.” But he acknowledged – and thanking everyone present for the honor attributed – “I must have done something of quality”. To everyone, he concluded, “my deep gratitude. Thank you very much!"
