On 2 June 2024, Deputy Director Dr Viviane Dittrich participated in a ceremony of grateful remembrance of Ben Ferencz and Thomas Buergenthal, an international gathering held in the Peace Palace premises in The Hague convened by Don Ferencz. The event brought together practitioners, academics, diplomats and students.
Speaking at the event Dr Dittrich paid tribute to the extraordinary lives of Ben and Tom. In her remarks she highlighted their special connection to Nuremberg and noted that Ben and Tom were two pioneers of a visionary generation, friends, fighters, champions of justice and the rule of law as lawyers, teachers, gifted story tellers and role models for young people.
Benjamin B. Ferencz was the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials and a dear friend of the Nuremberg Academy.
Thomas Buergenthal was a Judge and President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Judge at the International Court of Justice and the first President and later Honorary President of the Advisory Council of the Nuremberg Academy.
In 2021, the Nuremberg Academy held two special events: a special live programme on the occasion of Ben’s 101st birthday in March 2021 and an event featuring the documentary “Peace through Justice” and a live conversation with Tom Buergenthal in April 2021.
The Nuremberg Academy previously held formal memorial events in Nuremberg, for Thomas Buergenthal on 23 November 2023 and for Ben Ferencz on 10 April 2024. (vd)