Official opening of the Leipzig site

Leipzig. The foundation’s temporary location at Universitätsstraße 20 is intended to serve as a platform for dialogue with Leipzig’s civic society on topics related to law and the rule of law. The need is great, according to Foundation Director Henrike Claussen: „According to a recent survey by the German Center for Integration and Migration Research*, 80 percent of people in Germany believe that democracy is under greater threat today than it was five years ago. Eighty-five percent of those surveyed said it is the state’s responsibility to do more to promote a vibrant democracy. Our goal is therefore to specifically promote an understanding of the rule of law, the law, and democracy—especially in the midst of this growing crisis of trust.“

In addition to Karlsruhe, the city of the Peaceful Revolution serves as one of the Foundation’s locations. „The Foundation thus has locations in both the east and west that are on equal footing, complementing one another while also allowing each to emphasize different aspects,“ says Foundation Director Henrike Claussen. The location in the center of Leipzig is a particular asset. As the City of the Peaceful Revolution, Leipzig is a center for civil and civil liberties and is regarded as a judicial hub of supraregional significance, primarily because it is home to the Federal Administrative Court and two criminal divisions of the Federal Court of Justice. Furthermore, Leipzig has a long history as a city of law.

By 2030, as part of the redevelopment of Leipzig’s inner-city area, the „Forum Recht“ is set to be built on Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz—a communication and exhibition center where visitors can experience, explore, understand, and discuss the rule of law—with all the challenges, contradictions, and „complexities“ inherent to it; not a museum in the traditional sense, but a place for active engagement, dialogue, and participation in the difficult questions surrounding the rule of law. With an estimated construction cost of 70 million euros, it is one of the federal government’s largest investments in Central Germany. A distinctive feature of the Foundation’s new building on the northern lot of Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz is its location in the immediate vicinity of the University of Leipzig’s School of Law. This facilitates numerous joint collaborations and synergies.

Short Interview with Henrike Claussen, Director of the Forum Recht Foundation – Click here to download!

Background and History – Click here to download!