On 20 September 2025, the Nuremberg Academy took part in the latest edition of the Stadt(ver)führungen (“city guided tours”), held from 19 to 21 September in Nuremberg and Fürth. Project Officer Astrid Walter chaired a panel discussion in the historic Courtroom 600 of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice, joined by Professor Dr Julia Geneuss (University of Potsdam) and Project Officer Dr Pablo Gavira Díaz (Nuremberg Academy).
The panel explored the theme “Perspectives”, focusing on the current state and relevance of international law. Dr Gavira Díaz addressed the role and challenges of the International Criminal Court, the permanent judicial body with jurisdiction over the gravest crimes — genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Professor Geneuss examined the domestic dimension of international criminal law, highlighting how Germany investigates and prosecutes these crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
The panellists also addressed the practical difficulties of applying universal justice in a world often marked by double standards, where selective investigations and prosecutions risk undermining the credibility of a field already facing political pressures. A lively exchange followed with the many attendees, who engaged enthusiastically in a vibrant debate about what international criminal justice can realistically achieve in an area shaped by complex legal and political dynamics. (pg)