Pursuing Human Dignity

The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg challenged the world to apply law to mass violence and to recognize crimes against humanity. Now, over 60 years later, what has that precedent produced?

In November 2005, Facing History and Ourselves and the Harvard Law School held a conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Pursuing Human Dignity: The Legacies of Nuremberg for International Law, Human Rights, and Education. The conference brought together participants from the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and current international justice initiatives with scholars, teachers, human rights activists, and students to explore the legacies and implications of the Nuremberg trials and recent institutions for international justice.

Facing History is grateful for funding provided by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, which has allowed us to make the conference accessible to educators through archiving.

Video excerpts and resources from the conference:

Nuremberg Remembered
This documentary combines both archival footage and modern-day interviews with trial participants who served in a variety of roles, including members of the legal team for the prosecution and a journalist reporting on the events for the press.

Rebecca Hamilton: Building a Permanent Anti-Genocide Constituency
Activist Rebecca Hamilton tells the story of how she helped mobilize the Harvard community to take action against the genocide in Sudan.

Robert P. Moses: From Slavery to Civil Rights: Impressions on Educational Inequality
Robert Moses reflects on the history of educational disenfranchisement of African Americans and considers how historical discrimination informs education today.

Educating for Human Dignity: Learning to Participate
Educators from Iraq, Northern Ireland, South Africa and the United States discuss the challenges for education for human dignity in a globalized world.

Sierra Leone Searches for Justice
The film produced by Facing History and Ourselves in collaboration with journalist Ken Shulman documents the search for justice after an eleven-year civil war in Sierra Leone.

Martha Minow: What the Rule of Law Should Mean in Civics Education
Harvard Law Professor Martha Minow, Chair of the Facing History and Ourselves Board of Scholars, discusses the relationship between war crimes, obedience, education and the law.

Samantha Power: Responding to Genocide in Darfur
Samantha Power speaks about the difference students can make in stopping gross violation of human rights.

The Legal and Educational Legacies of The Nuremberg Tribunal
Scholars and experts reflect on the legal and educational legacies of Nuremberg.