In a 2-day conference, Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) wishes to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust in Northern Transylvania, by examining the legal aspects of the Holocaust. The goal of the event is to explore the role of law in the events leading up to the Holocaust, its implementation, and the subsequent legal responses. 

The conference will begin with two keynote speeches, followed by three panel discussions. 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 

DAY 1 – WEDNESDAY, 6TH OF NOVEMBER 

16:00 - Opening 

  • Botond Talpas, president (Mathias Corvinus Collegium, Kolozsvár/Cluj-Napoca) 
  • Prof. Dr. Emőd Veress, lawyer, university professor (Sapientia University – Kolozsvár/Cluj) 

16:30 - Keynote speeches 

  • Prof. Dr. Aniceto Masferrer, university professor (University of Valencia) 
  • Prof. Dr. Attila Horváth, judge at the Constitutional Court of Hungary, legal historian, university professor (Ludovika University of Public Service – Budapest) 

18:00–19:30 - Panel Discussion I: The Legal Precursors of the Holocaust 

This panel will analyze the legal frameworks and policies that contributed to the marginalization and persecution of Jewish communities, as well as how the law was used or distorted in the preparation of the Holocaust. 

  • Dr. Ida Ferrero, researcher (University of Torino) 
  • Dr. Gábor Schweitzer, university professor (Ludovika University of Public Service – Budapest) 
  • Prof. Dr. Emőd Veress, lawyer, university professor (Sapientia University – Kolozsvár/Cluj) 

DAY 2 – THURSDAY, 7TH OF NOVEMBER 

11:00–12:30 - Panel Discussion II: The Role of Law in the Implementation of the Holocaust 

This section will examine how legal mechanisms and institutions were applied to support and legitimize the execution of the Holocaust, particularly highlighting the intersection of state-sponsored atrocities and law. 

  • Dr. Nicolae Drăgușin, researcher (The Elie Wiesel National Institute for Studying the Holocaust in Romania) 
  • László Bernát Veszprémy, historian (Mathias Corvinus Collegium, Budapest) 
  • Bence Zsolt Kovács, PhD student (University of Miskolc, Deák Ferenc Doctoral School) 

14:00-15:30 - Panel Discussion III: Legal Reactions to the Holocaust 

The third panel will address the legal responses following the Holocaust, including trials, reparations, and the development of international law, which aimed to seek justice for the victims. 

  • Dr. Ádám Gellért, lawyer, historian (Institute for the Study of Violence – Budapest) 
  • Kiran Mohandas Menon, senior officer (International Nuremberg Principles Academy, Germany) 
  • Dr. János Székely, assistant professor (Sapientia University – Kolozsvár/Cluj) 

The discussion will take place in English, Hungarian and Romanian. Simultaneous interpreters will be available in all three languages.

We kindly ask you to inform us of your intention to attend by filling in the form below:

REGISTRATION

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