Conference: Teaching International Human Rights Law in Times of Normative Contestation – Universität Innsbruck

Within the framework of the Euregio Mobility Programme, Professors Peter Hilpold of the University of Innsbruck, Stefania Barcocelli of the University of Bolzano-Bozen, and Giuseppe Nesi of the University of Trento regularly organize conferences on issues of international and European law. After a series of conferences on the teaching of international law had been completed in previous years, which led to the publication Teaching International Law (edited by Peter Hilpold and Giuseppe Nesi), the focus has now been broadened to include the protection of human rights. Particular emphasis was placed on questions of transitional justice, international criminal law, and European human rights and minority protection.

This year’s event, which was extended to three days for the first time, also involved the Austria-Israel Academic Network Innsbruck, headed by Prof. Hajnal and with the active support of Vera Dietl BA MA MA. The network facilitated the participation of internationally recognized experts in the field of human rights protection from Israeli universities: Mordechai Kremnitzer, Ziv Bohrer, and Shelly Aviv Yeini.

Renowned professors such as Ruti Teitel of New York University, Gerry Simpson of the London School of Economics, and Jan Wouters of KU Leuven gave the event a particularly distinguished framework. This was further underscored by the participation of speakers from Australia, Dr. Ayla do Vale Alves of the University of Adelaide, and Pakistan, Dr. Sana Khan of the University of Karachi.

Further presentations were given by Prof. Christina Binder of the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Prof. Gerd Oberleitner of the University of Graz, and, under the direction of Dr. Roberta Medda-Windischer, an expert panel from Eurac Research in Bolzano. This panel included Prof. Petra Roter of the University of Ljubljana, Prof. Jens Woelk of the University of Trento, as well as Dr. Andrea Carlà and Dr. Mattia Zeba of Eurac Research in Bolzano. In addition to Prof. Giuseppe Nesi, the Trento team also included Professors Marco Pertile and Antonino Alì.

Prof. Giulio Bartolini of Roma Tre University addressed in particular the role of academic teachers in defending human rights in general, and academic freedom and freedom of teaching in particular. Prof. Paolo Piva of the University of Padua and Prof. Matthias Kettemann of the University of Innsbruck also contributed to this topic.

The presentations focused centrally on the question of how human rights should be taught in an age marked by a unique crisis of international law. Throughout the conference, it was emphasized that the teaching of international law and human rights has the task of defending the central achievements attained since 1945, achievements that also emerged as a direct response to an unprecedented rupture in the history of European and international civilization.

At the same time, the conference also took into account the fact that approaches to human rights protection have become increasingly complex, particularly in view of efforts to include equally perspectives from the Global South.

The conference, which was also supported, among others, by the European Society of International Law, ESIL, and was organized in a hybrid format, attracted an unprecedented level of interest for an international law conference in Innsbruck, with more than 260 online registrations and numerous participants attending in person. It was the explicit aim of the organizers to make the lectures and discussions as accessible as possible to an international audience. The many comments and questions submitted online confirmed that this communication platform had proven successful.

A prompt publication of the conference proceedings is planned.