The CHREN regularly organizes international conferences. This page includes both upcoming and a selection of past conferences.
“Displacement, Immobility and Human Rights” 2021
CHREN/FFVT Online Workshop: “Displacement, Immobility and Human Rights” 2021″
Find the full program here.
Prohibition, Prosecution, and Prevention of Enforced Disappearances
The International Nuremberg Principles Academy and the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg are organising an international conference entitled “Prohibition, Prosecution and Prevention of Enforced Disappearances” from 7 to 8 May 2021. Originally planned for May 2020, the institutions decided to postpone the conference due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and to hold an online conference this year.
Given the harm and the structural disruption that so many societies have suffered due to enforced disappearances, the traumatic consequences of the uncertain destiny of many persons are still present every day. The concept of enforced disappearances has been reflected in different fields of study, including in history, law and political science. This conference will provide the opportunity to reflect on the importance of preventing, investigating and repairing the systematic use of arrests, detentions, kidnapping and other forms of deprivation of liberty without revealing the fate and the whereabouts of the disappeared persons.
The international conference will provide an overview of the concept of enforced disappearances and its origins, then focus on three key topics in the current debate about this issue: new forms of commission of enforced disappearances, State duties regarding the investigation and prevention of enforced disappearances, and prosecution of the crime at the international and national levels: new forms of commission of enforced disappearances, State duties regarding the investigation and prevention of enforced disappearances, and prosecution of the crime at the international and national levels.
The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Olivier de Frouville, Professor of Public Law, Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II); Director, Paris Research Centre for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law; Vice President, United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances.
Following the keynote address, these topics will be tackled in the following four panels:
- Panel I: Historical Origins of the Crime of Enforced Disappearances and Its Legal Concept
- Panel II: Disappearances of Migrants as a Challenge for International Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Action
- Panel III: Determining the Fate of the Disappeared and Investigating Perpetrators
- Panel IV: Prosecuting Enforced Disappearances at the National and International Levels
In order to reflect on the importance of sanctioning and criminalising enforced disappearances, the speakers and chairs of the panels will address the concept of enforced disappearance as a human rights violation and as a crime. The conference will provide a forum for leading international experts and practitioners to critically discuss what lessons can be learned from the origins, evolution and practical experience of the concept of enforced disappearances for the advancement of the fields of human rights law and international criminal law.
Confirmed speakers are Verónica Hinestroza (Independent Expert); Prof. Emilio Crenzel (Universidad de Buenos Aires); Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez (Fundación para la Justicia y el Estado Democrático de Derecho); Eric Stover (University of California at Berkeley); Andreas Schüller (European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights); Dr. Dilek Kurban (Hertie School); Prof. Gabriella Citroni (University of Milano-Bicocca); Luciano Hazan (United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances); Dr. Rainer Huhle (formerly United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances); Barbara Lochbihler (United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances); Dr. Grazyna Baranowska (Polish Academy of Sciences).
The international conference “Prohibition, Prosecution and Prevention of Enforced Disappearances” will consist of a series of sessions in Zoom webinar format to bring together communities virtually to explore possible responses to enforced disappearances. All the sessions will be accessible to registered participants and will be recorded and made available on the Nuremberg Academy YouTube channel.
Prior registration is required.
Please register using this link https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JapV11SJQI-OQxsb262Vsw
Please find the program of the conference here (Download pdf).
Nuremberg at 75: Launching the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigation
Nuremberg at 75: Launching the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations and the Future of Visual Evidence in International Accountability
1st of December 2020

The celebration will be held virtually with an introduction to the event from Courtroom 600, the site of the Nuremberg Trials in the city’s Palace of Justice. Register in advance for the Zoom link here.
This event commemorates the first use of film as evidence in an international trial and discusses the future of digital evidence to foster accountability for violations of international criminal, humanitarian, and human rights law.
The event will feature a welcome from the Mayor of Nuremberg, Marcus König, and a statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. We will hear from scholars and advocates at the intersection of human rights, technology, and legal accountability.
Find the full program here.
Background
“On November 29, 1945, only a week into the trial, the . . . prosecution introduced an hour-long film titled “The Nazi Concentration Camps.” When the lights came up in the Palace of Justice all assembled sat in silence. The human impact of this visual evidence was a turning point in the Nuremberg trial. It brought the Holocaust into the courtroom.” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
We cooparete with:
Online Workshop: Flight, Governance, Human Rights 2020
As part of the FFVT project, the CHREN is organizing a first workshop on July 9th and 10th. In this workshop, distinguished scientists and politicians will address current challenges at the global, European and national levels of asylum, migration, governance and human rights: “Where do the Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees lead to?” “What ought to be done about the Common European Asylum system?” “What can reasonably be expected from the German EU Council Presidency, starting in July, in the area of migration and refugees – and in view of Corona?”
To receive further information and register for the workshop, please follow this link.
Online Workshop: Human Rights Overreach 2020
The CHREN members Ingrid Leijten and Anuscheh Farahat will be hosting the conference “Human Rights Overreach” from 1 to 2 July 2020 in Erlangen.
Additional information can be found here.
Human Rights in Times of Contestation 2019
The CHREN, in cooperation with the Nürnberger Menschenrechtszentrum (NMRZ), the city of Nuremberg and the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, organized the international conference “Human Rights in Times of Contestation” that took place in Nuremberg from 27 to 28 June 2019.
We would like to thank all speakers and participants for their vivid participation and exciting discussions!
Program
The aim of this conference is to assess recent political, economic and social crises, which seem to increasingly challenge the normative value and practical relevance of human rights. These crises – the raise of (neo-)nationalist populist politics, increased authoritarian rules, challenges to international law and multilateralism to name but a few – have caused some to fundamentally question the current value of human rights. In their view, the liberal agenda of ever-expanding international human rights is no longer a viable solution to the problems of the contemporary world, in fact, it may be part of these problems. Others maintain that current crises call for more and better human rights implementation not less. Both perspectives seem to address human rights from a perspective of contestation: Human rights being contested and human rights as contestation of illiberal movements.
The conference will bring leading international scholars of human rights to Nuremberg – a city that has seen both: Human rights being contested through their complete annihilation by the Nazi regime and human rights as source of contestation of the most barbarous acts during the trials bringing the leading figures of the Nazi regime to justice. The conference is hosted jointly by the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg of Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU), the City of Nuremberg and the Nuremberg Human Rights Centre (NMRZ).
The full program can be accessed here.
Impressions:
Our students’ thoughts about the conference:
The Human Rights in Times of Contestation Conference was inspiring on many levels. First, it was impressive to see such a high caliber group of academics assembled together and, despite the troubling times alluded to by the title of the conference, express deep hope and optimism for the future. Second, the conference afforded an opportunity for thoughtful dialogue for researchers from many different disciplines, from political scientists to economists and philosophers, sharing their perspectives in an atmosphere that was attentive and respectful. I am always happy to see how human rights defenders truly practice what they preach, showing respect and admiration not only for their peers, but also to the younger students and interested audience members who attended the event. Events like these give aspiring academics and practitioners a strong foundation and reasons to remain actively engaged in the pursuit of dignity for all.
– Camila, Studentin des Masters Human Rights
I’m very grateful for the CHREN giving us students the opportunity to listen to so many excellent and inspiring scholars and activists
– Hanna, Studentin der Rechtswissenschaften
Videos:
Opening Lecture: Human Rights in Crisis – New Developments, Old Challenges?
Therefore call up the video Opening Lecture: Human Rights in Crisis – New Developments, Old Challenges? from the FAU video portal.
Closing Lecture: Re-thinking Human Rights
Therefore call up the video Closing Lecture: Re-thinking Human Rights from the FAU video portal.
Political Contestation of Human Rights and Liberal Democracy
Therefore call up the video Political Contestation of Human Rights and Liberal Democracy from the FAU video portal.
Religious Freedom and Gender Equality Conflicts, Controversies, Potential Synergies
Therefore call up the video Religious Freedom and Gender Equality Conflicts, Controversies, Potential Synergies from the FAU video portal.
Universal Human Rights for Migrants and Refugees: Challenge or Chance?
Therefore call up the video Universal Human Rights for Migrants and Refugees: Challenge or Chance? from the FAU video portal.
Universal Human Rights for Migrants and Refugees: Challenge or Chance? / Part II
Therefore call up the video Universal Human Rights for Migrants and Refugees: Challenge or Chance? / Part II from the FAU video portal.
Do We Live in a Post-Human Rights Era?
Therefore call up the video Do We Live in a Post-Human Rights Era? from the FAU video portal.
Do We Live in a Post-Human Rights Era? / Part II
Therefore call up the video Do We Live in a Post-Human Rights Era? / Part II from the FAU video portal.
Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution? Business and Human Rights
Therefore call up the video Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution? Business and Human Rights from the FAU video portal.
Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution? Business and Human Rights / Part II
Therefore call up the video Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution? Business and Human Rights / Part II from the FAU video portal.
Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution? Business and Human Rights / Comment
Therefore call up the video Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution? Business and Human Rights / Comment from the FAU video portal.
Round Table Discussion: Lessons from and for Europe
Therefore call up the video Round Table Discussion: Lessons from and for Europe from the FAU video portal.
Panel 5: Challenges for Human Rights Courts and Institutions
Therefore call up the video Panel 5: Challenges for Human Rights Courts and Institutions from the FAU video portal.
Please follow this link for more video options.