Jacobs Professor Georg Ress receives the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

On October 6, 2008, on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the German Reunification, Federal President Horst Köhler will award merited citizens with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Among them is Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Georg Ress, who has been teaching „International Law“ at Jacobs University since September 2005. The outstanding political and legal scientist and former judge at the European Court of Human Rights receives Germany’s highest distinction in honor of services to the common welfare for his merits in the field of Human Rights research and promotion.

[ Sep 25, 2008]  Human rights in Europe are George Ress’ life’s work. An especially important chapter in his scientific and academic endeavors were his nearly 20 years (1979 - 1998) as director of the world-renowned Europa-Institut of Saarland University. Ress contributed substantially to the institute’s present day set-up and established the worldwide acknowledged graduate program "European Integration" as well as partial programs on “Human Rights Protection”, “International Economic Law”, and “European Media Law”. He especially supported foreign students in their academic studies and set great store in conveying important aspects of German culture and history to them.

Moreover, he substantially influenced the favourable development of Human Rights through his many prominent positions such as initiator of the German Institute of Human Rights, as member of the Law Board of the German Foreign Office (1980-98), as German representative of the European Human Rights Commission (1994-1999), and as judge and section president at the European Court of Human Rights (1998 – 2004) in Strasbourg.

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was instituted in 1951 by Federal President Theodor Heuss. It is the only honour that may be awarded in all fields of endeavour and is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. The Order of Merit may be awarded to Germans as well as foreigners for achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm and for all kinds of outstanding services to the nation in the field of social, charitable or philanthropic work. No pecuniary reward is attached.