Thomas Buergenthal

Judge, International Court of Justice

Thomas Buergenthal grew up in Poland, and was interned in Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps during the Second World. After emigrating from Germany in the 1950's, he studied law at New York University and Harvard. He has held the positions of Lobingier Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence at The George Washington University Law School and Dean of Washington College of Law, American University. He has served as a judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the UN Truth Commission for El Salvador, and was previously a member of the UN Human Rights Committee.

Buergenthal received the 2008 Gruber Prize for Justice for his contribution to the protection of human rights. His memoir, A Lucky Child, was published in May 2009.