Emeritus Professor Dr. Hannes Tretter

hannes.tretter@humanrights.at

General information

  • born 1951 in Vienna
  • Law studies at University of Vienna 1970-1975
  • PhD (doctor iuris), University of Vienna 1975
  • Court practice 1976
  • Legal assistant at the Austrian Constitutional Court 1976-1978
  • Assistant and Assistant professor at the Institute of Constitutional and Administrative Law at the University of Vienna 1978-2004
  • Habilitation for Fundamental and Human Rights Law, University of Vienna 2004

Positions and functions

  • Administrative Director and Scientific Co-Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental andHuman Rights (BIM) in Vienna (1992-2019)
  • Associate Professor for Human and Fundamental Rights Law at the Faculty of Law (2004-2016), and Deputy Head of the Research Centre Human Rights, University of Vienna (since 2014)
  • Lecturer of human rights, international and European law courses at various institutions and programmes, including the “Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights”, Danube University Krems (Lower Austria), the European Inter-University Center in Venice (EMA), Viadrina University Frankfurt/Oder
  • Director of the Straniak Academy for Democracy and Human Rights (since 2013)
  • Vice-chair of the Management Board of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (2007- 2012) 
  • Director of the Austrian RAXEN Focal Point of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia in Vienna – EUMC (between 2000 and 2002 Co-Director, 2002-2007 Director)
  • Head, deputy head, respectively member of an Independent Commission of the Austrian Human Rights Advisory Board within the Federal Ministry of Interior (2000-2006)
  •  Of Counsel for Human Rights for various law firms (since 1978)
  •  Member of the Defence Council of the Vienna Court of Appeal (since 1986)
  •  Editor of the journal “Die Union”, European Commission – Representation in Austria, (2000-2004)
  • Alternate Member of the Scientific Committee of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
  • Member of the Austrian Commission of Jurists
  • Board member of Reporters without Frontiers Austria
  • Member of the Austrian League for Human Rights
  • Member of the Board of Trustees of the legal committee LAMBDA
  • Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Danube University, Krems/Lower Austria

Areas of Expertise

Longstanding experience in the scientific and administrative management of a human rights institute up to 50 staff members; leading of various scientific and applied research projects as well as several EU Twinning projects

  • Project Management: Project leader of several research projects of BIM (sponsored inter alia by EU, OSCE, US State Department, Open Society Institute, Austrian Development Agency, FWF, OeNB, BKA, BMaA, BMJ, BMWF, BMUKK, BMSK, BMWA), inter alia:
    •  Ethnic cleansing operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo (reporting to UN organs, including ICTY)
    •  Implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Austria
    •  Temporary protection for Bosnian refugees in Europe
    • Drafting of a general law on anti-discrimination measures in Austria, implementation of the EU Directives against discrimination
    • Combating against trafficking in human beings
    • Human Dimension of the OSCE
    • Corporate social responsibility of enterprises
    • Care for refugees in Austria
    • Implementation of judgments of the ECtHR in national law
    • Implementation of the EU Data Retention Directive into the Austrian legal order (drafting the law)
    • Human Rights of refugees and asylum seekers in the Mediterranean and North African States
    • Crimes against humanity committed by the “Islamic State”
  • EU Twinning projects in the area of democratisation, rule of law and human rights carried out by BIM on behalf of the Republic of Austria – Project leader and expert activities of/in the following EU Twinning projects:
    • “Support to the advancement of human rights and zero tolerance to discrimination” in Serbia (2015 – 2017)
    •  “Establishing a comprehensive system for anti-discrimination protection“ in Croatia (2011-2013)
    • “Combating Trafficking in Human Beings” in Croatia (2007-2008)
    • “Enforcement of Equal Opportunity Policies and the Effective Implementation of the Anti-discrimination Law” in Hungary (2006-2007)
    • “Strengthening the National Institutional Structure for the Fight against discrimination” in Slovenia, 2006
    • “Assistance to the OPDP in Exercising Supervision of Personal Data Protection” in the Czech Republic, 2006
  • Lead of BIM input and/or expert activities in the following EU Twinning projects:
    • “Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Supreme Court of Ukraine in the Field of Human Rights Protection at the National Level”, 2016-2018
    •  “Implementation of the best European practices with the aim of strengthening the institutional capacity of the Apparatus of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights to protect human rights and freedoms (Apparatus)”, 2016-2018
    • “Fight against Homophobia and Transphobia” in Kosovo, 2015
    • “Improved Relations between Mass Media and Judiciary” in Turkey, 2013-2015
    •  “Towards an effective and professional Justice Academy” in Turkey, 2013-2015
    •  “Implementation Capacity of Turkish Police to Prevent Disproportionate Use of Force” in Turkey, 2011-2013
    •  “Implementation of Personal Data Protection Strategy” in Montenegro, 2011-2013
    • “Support for setting up an efficient National Preventive Mechanism for an increased promotion and protection of human rights in the places of detention” in Romania, 2010
  • Comprehensive experience in research activities on human rights, rule of law and democratization
  • Practical and academic experiences concerning the elaboration of draft bills as well as adaptation of domestic law according to international and European human rights requirements; experience in comparative law
  • Long-standing experience in human rights education and training
  • Various expert opinions and reports on fundamental and human rights items as well as legal advise and representation in procedures before the European Court of human rights in Strasbourg and the Austrian Constitutional Court