60 years Deutsches Grundgesetz _ΡΣ The German Constitution turns 60

Human and basic rights through the eyes of Germany and Australia, University House 

On 23 May 2009, Germany will mark the 60th anniversary of the Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the German Constitution.

Merely four years after Germany’s unconditional surrender ending the Second World War in Europe, the “Parliamentarische Rat” announced the German Grundgesetz on 23 May 1949. Konrad Adenauer, Germany’s first post-war Chancellor, commented that day:

[This is] another chapter in the changeful history of our people … Today, the Federal Republic of Germany will step into history.

Despite having been conceived as a temporary constitution, today the Grundgesetz remains the fundamental bedrock underpinning a democratic Germany founded on the rule of law. It embodies the German peoples’ core values and the country’s basic principles and order. Central to the Grundgesetz remains the “Grundrechtskatalog”, the cataloge of human and constitutional rights.

At this conference, leading German and Australian legal experts will discuss key human and constitutional rights and principles from both a German and Australian perspective. Confirmed German and Australian speakers include:

  • Associate Professor Nicholas Aroney, University of Queensland
  • Mr Stefan Aust, Journalist and former Editor-in-Chief, Der Spiegel
  • Associate Professor Jürgen Bröhmer, University of New England
  • Professor Simon Bronitt, Australian National University
  • Mr Craig Collins, Australian National University
  • Professor Dr Dieter Dörr, Mainz, Germany
  • Associate Professor Katharine Gelber, University of New South Wales
  • Professor Dr Michael Hahn, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Ms Saskia Hufnagel, Australian National University
  • Associate Professor Andrew Lynch, University of New South Wales
  • Professor Dr Rolf Schwartmann, Cologne, Germany
  • Professor Dr Torsten Stein, Europa-Institute, Germany
  • Professor George Williams, University of New South Wales