No, this conference is being organized by the European Society of International Law (ESIL) and scholars at Freie Universität who are themselves members of ESIL. The ESIL Annual Conference takes place in a different location every year. It is an annual event aimed at facilitating discussions and promoting research in the field of international law.

In accordance with Article 5.3 of Germany’s Basic Law, which protects the principle of academic freedom, researchers have the right to independently decide upon specific topics, formats, and guests when organizing academic events.

Francesca Albanese is a special rapporteur for the United Nations, tasked with following and reporting on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In her capacity as human rights expert and by invitation of one of ESIL’s interest groups, she will be discussing current topics in international law with other experts in a pre-conference workshop. The pre-conference events have been organized independently of the conference by the interest groups in question; the individual interest groups bear responsibility for the content of these workshops and how they are implemented. This year, twenty interest groups from ESIL are organizing pre-conference workshops in which more than sixty different scholars have been invited to speak on a range of topics and perspectives.

This year’s conference is on “Reconstructing International Law.” Those attending the event will address the future of international law from institutional, normative, historical, and theoretical perspectives. This includes controversial perspectives as part of the academic freedom enshrined in Article 5.3 of Germany’s Basic Law. ESIL is an independent scholarly association that serves as a platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and students interested in international law.

Inviting specific individuals to speak at an academic event does not mean that the organizers or the Executive Board of Freie Universität Berlin agree with the political opinions of these individuals. Science and research thrive on debate and sharing ideas, even when those ideas are controversial. Universities have a duty to provide spaces to discuss topics that demand thoughtful arguments and articulated perspectives – spaces for open and critical dialogue.

Yes. Like all universities in Germany, Freie Universität Berlin has an obligation to uphold academic freedom and the autonomy of its professors and researchers in accordance with Article 5.3 of Germany’s Basic Law. This includes the ability to explore controversial or highly disputed topics within the framework of academic inquiry.

Freie Universität takes public debate and criticism seriously. At the same time, academic events serve as a forum for critical debate and engagement. It is the task of the scholars invited to speak at such events and the audience to situate arguments in their appropriate contexts and to facilitate debate.

As an institution, Freie Universität Berlin does not comment on individual political issues, nor does it take an institutional stance on any statements made in the context of an academic event held at Freie Universität. For more information on this topic, see Freie Universität Berlin’s Policy on Political Activity and Protests on Campus.

In order for academic culture to thrive, controversial voices must also be heard and granted a platform for debate. This is the only way to enable researchers to place complex international issues into context, and for students to develop the skills they need to engage with these issues in their own academic and scientific work.