On 23 November 2025, the Nuremberg Academy opened its doors to the public for an Open Day, offering visitors an in-depth look at its work in education, research and public engagement in the field of international criminal justice. The event featured a series of activities and presentations that showcased initiatives in capacity strengthening, research and public discourse, providing attendees with insight into the Academy’s ongoing projects and its mission to promote international criminal law and related human rights.
The programme began with welcome remarks from Deputy Director Dr Viviane Dittrich, Second Mayor of Nuremberg Professor Dr Julia Lehner and Nuremberg City Councillor Dr Nasser Ahmed. This was followed by the panel discussion “Echoes of Nuremberg: A Legacy Under Threat?”, which explored the current state of international law while reflecting on Nuremberg’s enduring relevance in addressing contemporary global challenges. Speakers Professor Dr Eckart Conze, Professor Dr Lena Foljanty, Dr Astrid Reisinger-Coracini and moderator Benjamin Dürr highlighted that Nuremberg remains a foundational milestone for an international legal order rooted in fairness and accountability. Contemporary developments, such as the criminalisation of aggressive war and recent legal proceedings against heads of state, were cited as evidence of the ongoing significance of the Nuremberg Principles.
The programme also featured screenings of the documentary “Peace Through Justice – The Legacy of Thomas Buergenthal”, which spotlighted Judge Buergenthal’s life and work in the pursuit of justice, and a Moot Court performance led by Project Officer Dr Emma Brandon, Bamberg University doctoral student Jenna Birnbohm-Kaminski and a delegation of students from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg. The event concluded with a dialogue on contemporary issues in international law, fostering interactive discussion between Director Professor Dr Christoph Safferling and participants.
This Open Day was part of a broader series of commemorative activities held in the east wing of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice to mark the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Nuremberg Trials. Organised by the Memorium Nuremberg Trials, the programme ran from 21 to 23 November 2025 and included panel discussions, guided tours and other public initiatives, all offered free of charge. (pg)
