World Comparative Law (WCL) is now accepting abstracts for its upcoming special issue "The City as Contested Space: Constitutional Perspectives on Urban Housing Disputes". The issue will be co-edited by Timo Laven, one of our PhD candidates at the Academy, and Katharina König of the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg.
This special issue aims to explore how constitutional law shapes urban housing policy and addresses the growing challenges of housing crises in cities worldwide. The editors invite contributions that examine the constitutional dimensions of urban housing disputes, with a focus on comparative perspectives.
Abstract submission guidelines:
Word Limit: 500 Words
Format: Word document
Deadline: March 15, 2025
Submission email: anna-katharina.koenig
fau.de
Those whose abstracts are accepted will be required to submit a draft paper by July 1, 2025, followed by a one-day virtual workshop to exchange ideas and receive feedback from peers. More details, including the journal's style guide, can be found at the link: https://voelkerrechtsblog.org/calls-for-papers/call-for-abstracts-world-comparative-law-special-issue-the-city-as-a-contested-space-constitutional-law-perspectives-on-urban-housing-disputes/
News
Call for Abstracts: Urban Housing and Constitutional Law
Prof. Nußberger in conversation with WDR
Prof. Nußberger was in conversation with WDR on Human Rights Day, December 10, 2024.
The topic of the interview was her newly published children's book “Free and Equal - Human Rights.”
Among other things, she talks about how she came to write a children's book as a professor and the differences between writing and her everyday work.
Romano-Guardini Prize: Award for Prof. Angelika Nußberger
Dr. Paula Rhein-Fischer in an interview with the State Agency for Civic Education
Dr. Paula Rhein-Fischer gave an interview to the State Agency for Civic Education of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of Human Rights Week.
The topic of the interview was “A look into the research Read the entire interview here.g: Dr. Rhein-Fischer, are human rights in danger?”
Ms. Paula Rhein-Fischer talks about topics that concern her as a human rights researcher and the position of the Federal Constitutional Court in the development of human rights.
BSC
Professor Nussberger took part in the Belgrade Security Conference 2024. The Belgrade Security Conference 2024 took place from November 18 to 20 at the Sava Center in Belgrade under the motto "In Defense of Humanity". The high-level international conference provided an important platform for dialog on current geopolitical challenges. Discussions focused on the US and EU elections, Europe's position in the changing world order and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Particular attention was paid to the integration of the Western Balkans and regional security issues. Highlights of the event included the presentation of the Lighthouse Award 2024, a memorial lecture for Budimir Lončar and various expert panels on topics such as cyber security and the role of the younger generation. Prof. Angelika Nußberger, Vice President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and member of the Venice Commission, spoke on the second day of the conference in the session "The Judiciary as the Guardian of Fundamental Values". In her contribution, she addressed the role of the Venice Commission and emphasized the importance of dialogue with civil society. She also explained that the Commission also sends clear messages when necessary by avoiding diplomatic formulations.
Angelika Nußberger und Rotraut Susanne Berner präsentieren ihr gemeinsames Kinderbuch "Frei und gleich".
On November 24, 2024, Prof. Angelika Nußberger and Rotraut Susanne Berner presenteded their joint children's book "Free and Equal" as part of the 65th Munich Book Show. In the book, they convey the history of human rights in a visual way.
The book deals with fundamental topics such as human dignity, freedom, equality and security based on true stories. The authors address current challenges such as the situation of refugees, human rights in Russia under Putin and environmental and climate protection in the context of human rights. Particular attention is paid to the balanced presentation of human rights and human duties. As a result, the book not only provides information, but also encourages reflection.
New IACL Blog series with Prof. Nußberger: Spotlight on the Venice Commission
Introduction to new IACL Blog series: Spotlight on the Venice Commission
Helle Krunke & Angelika Nußberger
President of the IACL & Chair of the IACL Commission on the Cooperation with the Venice Commission
The International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL) and the Venice Commission have a long-standing cooperation. They have a lot in common, especially the strong focus on democracy, rule of law, and human rights, within and beyond Europe. The IACL has observer status in the Venice Commission, and the Venice Commission has observer status in the Executive Commission of the IACL. While the Venice Commission focuses more on practical work, issuing opinions on constitutional amendments and new laws, the IACL brings together constitutionalists from all continents and contributes to a better understanding of the similarities and differences of legal systems worldwide; thus, their work is complementary and mutually inspiring.
That is why the IACL and the Venice Commission have already organized several conferences together. The next joint conference with the topic “Lessons Learned and Learning Lessons. The Venice Commission’s Experience in Elaborating Transnationally Valid Constitutional Standards” will be held in Venice on 12 March 2025.
In light of the valued cooperation between the IACL and the Venice Commission, the IACL Commission on the Cooperation between the IACL and the Venice Commission, will introduce a new IACL Blog series to discuss important opinions of the Venice Commission.
Prof. Nußberger was in Warsaw with the Venice Commission
On October 14 and 15, a delegation from the Venice Commission, of which Prof. Nußberger was a member, visited Warsaw, Poland, to prepare an opinion on the laws on the Constitutional Tribunal and draft constitutional amendments relating to the Constitutional Tribunal.
The delegation of the Venice Commission met with the Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, a former visiting professor of the Academy for European Human Rights Protection, members of Parliament (ruling coalition and opposition parties), the Constitutional Tribunal, the President's Office, the Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights, a former President of the Constitutional Tribunal and civil society organizations.
Dr. Cathérine Van de Graaf and Reza Khabook at the autumn school of the DAAD project Taz'iz LegalLead
The Autumn School of the DAAD Taz'iz LegalLead project took place from the 30th of September until the 5th of October 2024 at the Faculty of Juridical, Political and Social Science of the University of Carthage. It brought together law students from the University of Carthage (Tunisia), the Al-Nahrain University (Iraq) and the University of Cologne (Germany) who were able to meet NGOs, experts and professors from all universities in various lectures, online workshops and group discussions. During the Autumn School, Dr. Cathérine Van de Graaf held a lecture on “Mobilising the gender discrimination argument in third party interventions before the European Court of Human Rights” and Reza Khabook on “Constitutional law in Islamic countries from a comparative perspective”.
About LegalLead
Law schools play a crucial role in the development of democratic institutions and the rule of law. However, in order to create a positive impact on society, it is necessary to have strong and effective transfer structures, to bring the knowledge generated by academia into practical use. A young generation of advocates and political scientists needs soft skills, the ability of solution-oriented and critical thinking, as well as links to a network of decision-makers outside the university – from governmental institutions to local policy think-tanks and NGOs. The LegalLead project seeks to strengthen transfer structures of leading law schools in Iraq and Tunisia and Germany and does so by building up and improving the structures of law clinics at the partner universities on the topics of female empowerment and good governance.
Prof. Angelika Nußberger as a guest in the podcast “Recht wissenschaftlich” of the University of Freiburg
Prof. Dr. DDr. h.c. Angelika Nußberger was a guest on the podcast “Recht wissenschaftlich” and spoke about the circumstances that set her on her unusual career path and how she became a professor of constitutional law, international law and comparative law, Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and a member of the Venice Commission.
Yet it all began with a degree in Slavic studies and the desire to become a teacher.