World mourns the loss of human rights pioneer Prof. Hannes Tretter (73)

World mourns the loss of human rights pioneer Prof. Hannes Tretter (73)

Wien, Österreich - The Ludwig Boltzmann Society says goodbye to Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hannes Tretter, an outstanding scientist and advocate of human rights, who died on March 25, 2025 at the age of 73 after a serious illness. His death is seen as a painful loss for the human rights community, which is remembered as a voice of reason, dialogue and humanity. Tretter was born in Vienna and began his professional career as a research assistant at the Constitutional Court before returning to the University of Vienna in 1978 and became an assistant to Felix Ermacora, a leading expert in human rights protection in Austria.

In 1992 he founded the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights (BIM) together with Ermacora and Manfred Nowak. Under Tretter's management, the institute developed into an important human rights research institution in Europe. There, numerous studies, reports and projects were realized to improve the human rights situation, which decisively shaped the treaders. He was the co-manager of the institute until 2019 and contributed significantly to anchoring human rights issues in research, politics and society. During this time he became a sought-after expert for human rights at home and abroad, which is also committed to strengthening basic and freedom rights in countries from Albania to Ukraine.

influence on human rights research

The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Basic and Human Rights, as Austria's largest non-university research institution in the field of human rights, promotes human rights research and pursues a human rights-based approach. Tretter's commitment and his interdisciplinarity contributed to the fact that the institute aimed to see a positive social effect of its research work. It is known for its long -term experience in the field of child rights and prevention of human trafficking, and it also deals with urgent human rights issues that go beyond the core issues.

The challenges in the field of basic and human rights require a wide range of answers, and the institute offers a platform for national and international research consortia in basic and applied research. It strives to implement academic knowledge into social relevance and integrates interdisciplinary perspectives from social and humanities that reflect Tretter's approach in research.

obituary and legacy

The Ludwig Boltzmann Society speaks to the family, friends and companions of Tretter's deeply felt sympathy. Tretter's work has not only shaped generations of students and college: inside, but also strengthened the reputation of the institute internationally. An obituary to Hannes Tretter is available on the website of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Basic and Human Rights, where his tireless efforts for human rights are remembered. Tretter's death is a great loss for everyone who is committed to protecting and protecting human rights.

In memory of Hannes Tretter, the values for which he stood and his tireless commitment to human rights will continue to serve as inspiration for many.

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