Public Discourse

Our public discourse initiatives are mostly held at Courtroom 600, the location of the Nuremberg trials. We also conduct programmes at Courtroom 619, which held parts of the subsequent Nuremberg Trials and is now part of the Academy´s office premises. These courtrooms are foundational symbols of international criminal law, representing the triumph of law over authoritarianism and impunity for mass atrocity crimes. These historic courtrooms are fitting venues for hosting discussions that nourish the law´s ability to better navigate a complex and fragmented geopolitical landscape.

Through our strong network with renowned partner institutions including courts, universities and research centres, the Academy also co-organises international events, including in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. We highly value partnering with institutions that promote accountability for international crimes in conflict affected regions. We also work closely with museums and memorial sites and have particularly strong ties with the Higher Regional Court of Nuremberg, Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg. 

We are a politically independent institution, which acts as a knowledge hub, furthers evidence-based decision making and values inclusivity and integrity. Our events bring practitioners of international criminal law into dialogue with each other as well as with academics and civil society representatives.

The Academy frequently organises conferences, seminars and lectures that enrich public understanding of international criminal law. Our events address current developments, invite critical thinking and conduct retrospectives and stocktaking assessments. Apart from high-profile public events, such as the annual Nuremberg Forum, we convene retreats and closed-door workshops encouraging specialist exchange in a setting conducive to frank dialogue on sensitive issues. For example, the Academy hosted the first-ever retreats for Judges of both the International Criminal Court and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. Also, the Academy hosted retreats for trial lawyers and a major international meeting of the defence.

In addition to organising events in Nuremberg and worldwide, our experts routinely contribute to high-profile events and international conferences hosted by other institutions. Our expertise is regularly sought and Academy colleagues have been invited as expert speakers worldwide. The Academy is routinely present at the annual meetings of the Arbeitskreis Völkerstrafrecht, the Journées internationales de la justice pénale international and the Ibero-American week of International Justice. In particular, the Academy is a regular organiser of events at the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court, held annually in The Hague or New York. 

The Nuremberg Academy is deeply committed to making discussions and outcomes from our events fully accessible. Almost all our events are open to the public free of charge, and recordings can be found on our YouTube channel and other social media pages. All Academy publications are available open access on our website.