Today is Human Rights Day: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world. This year on Human Rights Day, the United Nations kick off a year-long campaign to promote and recognise the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2023. Continue reading

Centenary of First Woman Admitted to German Bar

On this day one hundred years ago, on 7 December 1922, Maria Otto (* 6 August 1892; † 20 December 1977) was admitted to the German bar (Rechtsanwaltschaft). She had obtained her law degree at Würzburg University already in 1916. However, she was not admitted to the practical legal training leading to the Second State Exam that was (and today still is) required to either qualify as a judge or to be admitted to the bar. In 1920, Maria Otto obtained a doctorate in law – the title of her thesis strikes me as rather modern: International Legal Protection Against Unfair Competition (Der internationale Rechtsschutz gegen unlauteren Wettbewerb). Continue reading