When the Second World War began, ­ Theodor Meron was a Jewish born boy of just 9. He survived ghettos, camps and unimaginable atrocities, but lost most of his family, finding sanctuary in British Palestine after the Holocaust.

Now, more than eight decades later, Judge Meron is a recognised world leader in both the scholarship and practice of international criminal justice—having served as the president of three UN tribunals, delivering landmark decisions on genocide and war crimes.

At The Conduit, he will share stories of his time as a legal adviser to governments, often swimming against the tide; as a restless diplomat, a boundary-pushing scholar and, ultimately, a ground-breaking international judge.

He is famous for his 1967 opinion finding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal under international law, an opinion he issued as a legal adviser to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. More recently, he has advised the International Criminal Court on potential crimes in the Russia–Ukraine war, and in Israel and Gaza since 2023.

The founding institutions of international justice today face unprecedented threats. Meron’s life story could not be a better-timed reminder of the importance of accountability.

Event Schedule

6:00pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

A cash bar will be available for refreshments.

6:15pm: Event begins

7:30pm: Event ends