AUWCL Hosts Holocaust Survivor and International Rights Scholar Thomas Buergenthal
March 20, 2019
On Tuesday, March 19, American University Washington College of Law welcomed former International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judge and former AUWCL Dean Thomas Buergenthal – one of the world’s leading international law and international human rights scholars – for a conversation with Professor and Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman.
Buergenthal is one of the youngest survivors of the Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps, and has built a long, distinguished career as a human rights advocate and expert throughout the past several decades – including his role in creating an international law program at AUWCL.
“One of the most important legacies of your time at WCL was your work to imbed he importance of the rule of law and the respect for human dignity,” said Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Brenda Smith during her welcoming remarks. “WCL continues to be passionate about, and passionately involved in that endeavor both domestically and internationally.”
Buergenthal spoke about the hardships and horrors he faced during the Holocaust, many of which are outlined in his 2009 memoir, A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy. Buergenthal described to Grossman and the audience his family’s attempt to flee, his life in the Jewish ghettos and labor camp, and being separated from his parents.
“As a child in Auschwitz, what you had to do is not be seen by the guards – children were already supposed to be in the gas chambers,” Buergenthal explained. “Only very few of us managed to get out. I spent most of my time being invisible. Then I became an errand boy, and that allowed me to be seen because I had a job. A purpose.”
Grossman said Buergenthal exemplifies the idea that “we all have the opportunity, the power, and the responsibility to take actions in situations where humanity is threatened.”
“It is not by chance that Tom, a survivor of one of the worst atrocities, has been placed in such an important role in promoting the realization of the value of humanity within human rights,” he said.
Along with serving as judge of the ICJ from 2000-2010, Buegenthal has served as judge and president of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (1979-1991); judge and president of the Administrative Tribunal, Inter-American Development Bank (1989-1994); member of the United Nations Truth Commission for El Salvador (1992-1993); member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (1995-1999); member of the Panels of Conciliators and of Arbitrators, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, World Bank (since 1997); and arbitrator (1997-2000) and vice-chairman (1999-2000) of the Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Accounts in Switzerland.
Buergenthal was Dean of AUWCL from 1980-1985. He has previously served as professor of international law at SDNY Buffalo Law School, as well as the University of Texas, Emory University, and George Washington law schools. After serving at the ICJ, he was named the Lobingier Professor Emeritus of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence at The George Washington University Law School.
“What you have overcome, the value of resilience, and forgiveness – you are a role model and inspiration to all of us,” said Professor and Director of the International Legal Studies Program Padideh Ala’i during her closing remarks.
The event was presented by the International Law Student Association and the Jewish Law Student Association.