Lviv, Law, (In)Justice

Ten years ago, Philippe Sands' book "East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity" was published in Ukrainian translation. The biographies of Raphael Lemkin and Hersch Lauterpacht, alongside the author's family history, introduced readers to the personal choices made by those who shaped international law after World War II, that was intended to satisfy the public's demand for justice, condemn the murders that had been committed, and prevent new crimes.

In addition to Lemkin and Lauterpacht, there are other lawyers connected to Lviv who contributed to these changes. Most of them were born in the Habsburg Empire, received their education in Poland, and practiced their professions in various parts of the world. Although they lived outside Lviv, they were well aware of the region's dilemmas and closely followed their development. The aftermath of World War I, economic problems, social conflicts, educational inequalities, and challenges related to ethnic origin in 1930s Poland — which they experienced personally — were reflected in their later ideas. This knowledge contributed to a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of the global catastrophe and to the search for more complex answers to the challenges of the postwar world.

During the walking tour "Lviv, Law, (In)Justice," we will discuss the biographies of these lawyers, the Lviv School of Law, how the city and its unique character shaped their personalities, and how the social connections formed in Lviv's coffeehouses influenced the creation of a new system of international law.

Language of the walk: English

To join the walk, please, register via the form. 

Co-organizers:

• NGO "Publishers' Forum"
• Center for Urban History
• Staryi Lev Publishing House
• Lviv City Council
• Dnistrianskyi Centre for Law and Politics

This event is presented as part of Lviv BookForum and the public program "From Place to Place: Stories from Scattered Archives" of the "REHERIT 2.0: Common Responsibility for Shared Heritage" project. 

The 33rd Lviv International BookForum is organized with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation as part of the "Flagship Events" program, the International Renaissance Foundation, the Canadian non-governmental organization "Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter," the Lviv Regional Military Administration, and the Lviv City Council. The festival is organized by the NGO "Publishers’ Forum." 

The "REHERIT 2.0" project is implemented by the Center for Urban History and the "Regional Development" Center of the PPV Economic Development Agency with financial support from the European Union.

Credits

Cover Image: The building of the former Criminal Court, 1892 / Collection of the Lviv Historical Museum / Urban Media Archive of the Center for Urban History