Nuremberg Forum 2017

 

10 Years after the Nuremberg Declaration on Peace and Justice: The Fight against Impunity at a Crossroad

The International Nuremberg Principles Academy organized its major annual conference at the historic Courtroom 600 of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice on 20 and 21 October 2017. The 2017 Nuremberg Forum entitled "10 Years after the Nuremberg Declaration on Peace and Justice: The Fight against Impunity at a Crossroad" focused on interlinking the past, present, and future of the 2007 Nuremberg Declaration on Peace and Justice, marking developments in the field within the last decade.

The Nuremberg Forum opened with remarks delivered by Dr. Guido Hildner, Director of Public International Law at the German Federal Foreign Office, Dr. Navi Pillay, President of the Advisory Council of the Nuremberg Academy and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and by the German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Christian Schmidt. The key note address was delivered by Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the International Criminal Court. In her speech, she reaffirmed the importance of the 2007 Nuremberg Declaration on Peace and Justice and the principles arising from it, and noted that these “continue to provide relevant and accurate guidance on what is required to ensure justice and peace in practice” even today.

Over the course of two days the Nuremberg Forum overall covered eight panels bringing together more than 35 international and national experts and practitioners to discuss various areas related to peace and justice, both in theory and in practice, highlighting the topical relevance of the 2007 Nuremberg Declaration on Peace and Justice, the advocated holistic approach and developments of the past ten years. Panel 1 critically reflected on the relevance of the Declaration today. Panel 2 laid out a broader theoretical understanding of peace and justice, with a focus on peace building, ending impunity and acceptance of international criminal justice. Panels 3, 4 and 5 focused on two principles and a recommendation, respectively victims’ rights, reconciliation, and development in the service of transitional justice. In light of the discussions Panel 6 illuminated potential obstacles to the fight against impunity in terms of political impediments. Finally, in order to stress the practical and topical relevance today, Panels 7 and 8 focused on the past, present, and future and addressed the interface between peace and justice, covering many practical examples from the situations in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Colombia, Rwanda and South Sudan.

Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,  delivered a closing speech via video message calling attention to the importance of the 2007 Nuremberg Declaration on Peace and Justice as a guiding document that settles many conflict-related issues relevant also to situations around the world today and related to addressing the interface between peace and justice.

The Nuremberg Academy again thanks the International Center for Transitional Justice for its strong engagement and contribution in preparing and participating in this conference. It is planned that a post-conference publication will capture the important thematic discussions highlight throughout the 2017 Nuremberg Forum.

For more information please click here.