Conference: „75 Years of the Basic Law—Aspirations, Reality, and the Future“

The Basic Law is turning 75—and it’s doing so during a turbulent time. This makes it all the more important to reflect on the significance of this most vital cornerstone of our democracy. We are currently facing a multitude of challenges that make it clear that the protection of our fundamental rights must continue to evolve. Whether it’s combating structural racism and social inequality; establishing a constitutional framework for climate justice; learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic; or ensuring access to justice and legal remedies in general: The Basic Law must be made fit for the future!

The one-day conference will explore these requirements for a sustainable constitution through six workshops, two panel discussions, and a keynote address. Whether you’re a student or a professional, a committed citizen or an expert on fundamental rights—anyone interested is cordially invited to Silent Green in Berlin!

Organized by the Society for Civil Liberties in cooperation with the Federal Agency for Civic Education and the Forum Recht Foundation, the conference—featuring experts from academia, civil society, and politics, as well as thought-provoking presentations, discussions, workshops, and artistic programming—offers new perspectives on the Basic Law in the context of today’s realities and the future.

Speakers and moderators at the conference include, among others:

• Stephan Anpalagan, journalist, musician, and theologian
• Ulf Buermeyer, Board Member of the Society for Civil Liberties
• Julia Duchrow, Secretary General of Amnesty International in Germany
• Doris Liebscher, Director of the LADG Ombudsman's Office
• Bijan Moini, Legal Director of the Society for Civil Liberties
• Dr. Christoph Möllers, Chair of Public Law, with a focus on Constitutional Law, and Philosophy of Law, Humboldt University of Berlin
• Natascha Strobl, political scientist
• Mirosław Wyrzykowski, former Polish Constitutional Court justice and minister of the Republic of Poland

The event will begin with a keynote address by GFF Legal Director Bijan Moini and an opening panel featuring international experts: Natascha Strobl, Prof. Mirosław Wyrzykowski, and Prof. Dr. Christoph Möllers. The panelists will discuss how the fundamental values of the Basic Law can be preserved in the future in light of a shift toward the political right and crucial upcoming elections. In doing so, they will focus on Germany and its neighboring countries. Afterward, participants can choose from three workshops in the morning. After a joint lunch break, there will be a second round of exciting workshops to choose from. The day will conclude with an artistic reflection over coffee and cake.

The conference will conclude with a closing panel featuring Dr. Julia Duchrow, Dr. Ulf Buermeyer, and Stephan Anpalagan, in which—after a day of taking stock—the focus will shift to the future: How can support for the rule of law and democracy be strengthened? How can we ensure that people are aware of their fundamental rights and exercise them with confidence? And what role do the media and civil society play in this regard when communicating on issues related to fundamental rights? Afterward, guests are cordially invited to wrap up the day together.

Further information and registration at: https://freiheitsrechte.org/themen/demokratie/75-jahre-grundgesetz

The conference is being held in cooperation with the Federal Agency for Civic Education and the Society for Civil Liberties.