From 24 - 25 September 2025, the Nuremberg Academy in cooperation with the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina organised a conference in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina entitled “Criminalising Genocide Denial: Law, Accountability and Prevention”. The conference was further supported by the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation e.V. (IRZ) and TRIAL International.
The conference facilitated an in-depth exchange of expertise between domestic and international experts on the benefits and challenges of implementing laws addressing genocide denial. It featured keynote addresses from Nuremberg Academy Director Professor Dr Christoph Safferling who elaborated on the German experience of confronting genocide denial and Professor Pablo de Greiff who spoke of the importance of prosecutions for a comprehensive transitional justice policy aiming at both redress and prevention. In the opening discussion moderated by Darleen Seda, Senior Office for Capacity Strengthening and Training, the panel was composed of Dr Serge Brammertz, Professor Angelika Nussberger, Milanko Kajganic and Professor Payam Akhavan. The discussion focused on the role of confronting genocide denial in fostering a culture of prevention on individual and institutional levels. While emphasizing that genocide denial is an affront towards the dignity of victims and survivors, the panellists further reflected on different approaches to prosecuting genocide denial that are in adherence to fundamental provisions protecting freedom of expression. Senior Officer Kiran Mohandas Menon served as conference moderator along with Dr Johanna Paul of the OHR.
The conference was further composed of three panel discussions. The first panel focused on strategies and challenges pertaining to prosecuting Genocide Denial. The panelists, including Dr Gurgen Petrossian, Senior Officer for International Criminal Law explored regulations, case law and established practices emanating from various legal systems. The second panel explored the delicate interaction of such initiatives with provisions protecting freedom of expression and the historical intricacies, political fault lines and individual identities shaping different contexts in this regard. The final panel highlighted the enduring and pervasive impact of denial on victims and societies, including initiatives furthering recognition and reconciliation. The conference was followed by a press conference in which High Representative Christian Schmidt and Director Professor Dr Christoph Safferling shared the outcomes of the conference with a significant gathering of the media. They emphasised the importance of prosecuting genocide denial for creating deterrence and to counter falsifications that deepen societal divisions.
A bilingual conference programme is available below. Please see here for a report on the conference as featured in Radio Free Europe. (km)
