Michael Lysander Fremuth
Dr. Michael Lysander Fremuth is a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program in 2026.
Fremuth is Full Professor for Fundamental and Human Rights at the Law Faculty of the University of Vienna, Founder and Scientific Director of the University’s Master Program in Human Rights, and Co-Director of the Research Network on Democracy and Human Rights. He also serves as Coordinator of the cooperation between the University of Vienna and Lviv University in Ukraine, and as a member of the University’s Sustainability Board. Furthermore, Fremuth is director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, one of the largest research institutes of its kind in Europe that combines basic and applied research to generate added value and societal impact.
Fremuth studied law with a focus on public international and human rights law, as well as on legal philosophy, and received his doctoral degree (summa cum laude) from the University of Cologne. His doctoral thesis on the concept of supranationality – which he developed as a sub-category of international law rather than as a separate legal system – was awarded the University Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement. In his habilitation thesis, he examines the interrelationships between globalization on the one hand, and statehood and sovereignty on the other leading to an understanding of sovereignty as a category of continuing and adaptive responsibility. Before becoming a tenured professor in Vienna, he was professor at the universities of Bayreuth, Berlin (Free University) and Trier. Fremuth serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Association of Human Rights Institutes, and as a member of the International Law Association’s Committee on Migration and International Law. He is also a member of the Austrian Commission on International Humanitarian Law at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. He was member of the federal board of the United Nations Association of Germany for several years, as well as founder and long-term chair of the association’s branch in North Rhine-Westphalia. He is member of the advisory boards of the Zeitschrift für Menschenrechte (Journal for Human Rights) and Zeitschrift für die Vereinten Nationen (German Review on the United Nations), as well as founder and editor of the publication series “Menschen.Rechte!” of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights.
Fremuth is a generalist in the fields of international law and human rights; his current research interests include the regulation of AI, migration issues, LGBTI matters, climate change, academic freedom, freedom of religion, the United Nations, International Criminal Law, as well as democracy and the rule of law. He regularly offers his expertise to the media and government institutions.
Related Work
For a full list of Fremuth’s publications see here.
Books
2026
Editor, ‘UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna 1993 – Strengthening Imperatives 30 Years After’, Vol IV, Proceedings of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, Manz.
2025
Co-editor, together with Ziegler, Andreas and Hernández-Truyol, Berta ‘The Oxford Handbook on LGBTI Law’, 1st ed., Oxford University Press.
2024
Editor, International Criminal Law before Domestic Courts – The Role of National Criminal Justice in the Prosecution of International Core Crimes, Vol III, Proceedings of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, Manz.
2023
Co-Author, together with Stephan Hobe, Europarecht (European Law). 11th ed., Vahlen/ Manz.
2022
Co-editor, together with McIntosh, Sam, ‘Protecting Life by Investigating Death – Human Rights Obligations on European States to Investigate the Deaths of Migrants and Refugees’, Vol II, Proceedings of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, Manz.
2021
Co-editor, together with Griebel, Jörn and Heinsch, Robert, ‘Natural Resources and International Law – Developments and Challenges’, Liber Amicorum Stephan Hobe, 1st ed., Nomos/Hart.
Editor, ‘70 Jahre Europäische Menschenrechtskonvention’ (70 Years European Convention on Human Rights), Vol I, Proceedings of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, Manz.
2019
‘Menschenrechte: Grundlagen und Rechtsdokumente’ (Human Rights: Foundations and Legal Documents), 2nd ed., Verlag Österreich/Berliner Wissenschaftsverlag.
2010
‘Die Europäische Union auf dem Weg in die Supranationalität’ (The European Union on the Path towards Supranationality), Lit-Verlag.
Journal Articles, Commentaries, Book Chapters & Media (since 2021)
2026
‘The Right to a Human Decision in AI’, in Binder et al (eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights (forthcoming).
‘Globalization and Human Rights’ in Binder et al (eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights (forthcoming).
‘Der nicht so kleine Unterschied – menschenrechtliche Grundlagen der Gendermedizin, in Medizinrecht’ (Human Rights Foundations of Gender Medicine), in Medizinrecht (Springer), Volume 44.
‘EMRK und Flüchtlingsrecht’ (European Convention on Human Rights and Refugee Law), in Zeitschrift für öffentliches Recht, pp. 165–194.
‘Omnibus I: Auswirkungen auf menschenrechtliche Unternehmensverantwortung sowie Audits und Zertifizierungen’ (Omnibus I: Implications for Corporate Human Rights Responsibility as well as Audits and Certifications), in Zeitschrift für das Recht der nachhaltigen Entwicklung, pp. 23–31.
2025
‘Reflections on a Human Right to a Human Decision in Artificial Intelligence’, in Sancin (ed.), Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights: From the Right to Life to Myriad of Diverse Human Rights Implications, 1st ed., Litteralis.
‘Klimawandel vor Gericht’ (Climate Change in Court), in Vereinte Nationen, pp. 205–210.
‘Migration and Asylum’, in Ziegler/Fremuth/Hernandez (eds.), LGBTI Law, 1st ed., Oxford University Press.
‘Lifting the Veil? Oops, They Did it Again – On the Headscarf Ban for Schoolgirls in Austria’, in VerfBlog, 2025/12/19, https://verfassungsblog.de/lifting-the-veil-oops-they-did-it-again/.
‘Einschränkungen sind religiösen Menschen zumutbar’ (Restrictions Can Reasonably Be Expected of Religious People), interview, News, 23 October 2025, pp. 28–31, available at https://www.news.at/politik/kopftuchverbot-jura-michael-lysander-fremuth.
‘Weltrettung per Gerichtsbeschluss’ (Saving the World by Court Order), ORF Science Arena, 7 July 2025, available at https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20250707/800524/Weltrettung-per-Gerichtsbeschluss.
2024
‘Der Klimawandel vor dem EGMR und die Grenzen der Menschenrechtskonvention’ (Climate Change before the ECtHR and the Limits of the European Convention on Human Rights), in Europäische Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsrecht, pp. 697–705.
‘Approaching International Criminal Law through the Lens of Human Rights’, in Fremuth/Sauermoser/Stavrou (eds.), International Criminal Law before Domestic Courts – Menschen.Rechte!, Schriftenreihe des Ludwig Boltzmann Instituts für Grund- und Menschenrechte, vol. 3, 1st ed., Manz, pp. 5–45.
‘Der Kampf für Demokratie und Menschenrechte hat kein Parteibuch’ (The Fight for Democracy and Human Rights Has No Party Affiliation), Der Standard, 30 December 2024, p. 19, available at https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000250568/der-kampf-fuer-demokratie-und-menschenrechte-hat-kein-parteibuch.
‘Klima-Glossar: Klimaklagen’ (Climate Glossary: Climate Litigation), Austria Presse Agentur, 9 September 2024, p. 13, available at https://science.apa.at/power-search/8522700440189213767.
‘Klimaklagen: Zwischen PR und Gerechtigkeit’ (Climate Litigation: Between PR and Justice), Rechtspanorama, Die Presse, 18 March 2024, p. 13, available at https://www.diepresse.com/18281098/klimaklagen-zwischen-pr-und-gerechtigkeit.
‘Klimaklagen: Weltrettung per Gerichtsurteil’ (Climate Litigation: Saving the World by Court Judgment), Interview, Dimensionen, Ö1, 12 March 2024, available at https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20240312/752569/Klimaklagen-Weltrettung-per-Gerichtsurteil.
2023
‘Recht des Stärkeren statt Stärke des Rechts? Eine rechtliche Würdigung des Angriffskrieges der Russischen Föderation gegen die Ukraine’ (The Law of the Stronger Instead of the Strength of the Law? A Legal Assessment of the Russian Federation’s War of Aggression against Ukraine), in Österreichischer Juristentag (ed.), Tagungsband, Abteilung Öffentliches Recht, pp. 92–119.
‘The House is on Fire – Grund- und Menschenrechte als Instrumente des Klimaschutzes?’ (The House Is on Fire – Fundamental and Human Rights as Instruments of Climate Protection?), in Hofmann et al. (eds.), Festschrift Franz Merli, 1st ed., Nomos/Manz, pp. 149–166.
‘The Right to Enter a Territory’, Report for the ILA Committee on Migration.
‘Migration and General Principles of Law’, Report for the ILA Committee on Migration.
‘Vom Ende des ‘Business as Usual’ – Aktuelle Entwicklungen und Muster der Regulierung von unternehmerischen Sorgfaltspflichten’ (The End of ‘Business as Usual’ – Current Developments and Patterns in the Regulation of Corporate Due Diligence Obligations), in Heger et al. (eds.), Der Schutz des Individuums durch das Recht, Festschrift Rainer Hofmann, 1st ed., Springer, pp. 817–843.
‘Klimawandel als eine der Hauptursache für Flucht’ (Climate Change as One of the Main Causes of Displacement), ORF, 5 December 2023, available at https://volksgruppen.orf.at/diversitaet/stories/3235351/.
‘Herausforderungen für den Menschenrechtsschutz’ (Challenges for Human Rights Protection), interview, Heimat–Fremde–Heimat, ORF, 10 January 2023.
‘Was bedeutet Versammlungsfreiheit?’ (What Does Freedom of Assembly Mean?), interview and video for the Demokratikum of the Austrian Parliament, available at https://www.parlament.gv.at/demokratikum/agora/stimmen/video-was-bedeutet-versammlungsfreiheit.
2022
‘The Future We Want? – Reflections on the Exercise of the United Nations Security Council Members’ Veto Powers towards the International Criminal Court’ (with Konstantina Stavrou), in de Wet/Scherr (eds.), Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law.
‘Internet Access as a Human Right’, in Kaminski/Xigen (eds.), Science, Technology and Human Rights, Journal of Development and Human Rights, pp. 325–333.
‘Die Rezeption der Europäischen Menschenrechtskonvention in Deutschland’ (The Reception of the European Convention on Human Rights in Germany), in Fremuth (ed.), 70 Jahre EMRK – Menschen.Rechte!, Schriftenreihe des Ludwig Boltzmann Instituts für Grund- und Menschenrechte, vol. 1, 1st ed., Manz, pp. 37–71.
‘The Crime of Aggression and the Prohibition of the Use of Force – Reflections on the Relation between the Rome Statute and General Public International Law’, in Bock/Conze (eds.), Rethinking the Crime of Aggression: International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 1st ed., Asser Press/Springer, pp. 171–205.
‘Globalization’, in Binder et al (eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights, 1st ed., Edward Elgar, pp. 353–361.
‘Kommt jetzt bald das Ende von ‘business as usual’?’ (Is the End of ‘Business as Usual’ Coming Soon?), guest contribution, Die Presse, 23 December 2022, pp. 26–27, available at https://www.diepresse.com/6230652/kommt-jetzt-bald-das-ende-von-bdquobusiness-as-usualldquo.
‘Stocktaking of the International Criminal Court – Concluding Remarks on the Symposium on the 20th Anniversary of the Entry into Force of the Rome Statute’ (with Andreas Sauermoser and Konstantina Stavrou), Völkerrechtsblog, 15 July 2022, available at https://voelkerrechtsblog.org/stocktaking-of-the-international-criminal-court/.
‘Fremuth über Butscha: Putin hat gezeigt, ‘dass er wusste, was dort geschehen ist’’ (Fremuth on Bucha: Putin Has Shown ‘That He Knew What Happened There’), interview, Puls24 News, 29 April 2022, available at https://www.puls24.at/video/puls-24/fremuth-ueber-butscha-putin-hat-gezeigt-dass-er-wusste-was-dort-geschehen-ist/v-cjl9mc9a6in5.
‘Im Krieg ist eben doch nicht alles erlaubt’ (Not Everything Is Permitted in War After All), interview, Profil, 12 March 2022, available at https://www.profil.at/ausland/ukraine-im-krieg-ist-eben-doch-nicht-alles-erlaubt/401934373.
‘Die Menschenrechte, eines der ersten Opfer des Kriegs’ (Human Rights, One of the First Casualties of War), guest comment, Die Presse, 3 March 2022, pp. 26–27, available at https://www.diepresse.com/6106402/die-menschenrechte-eines-der-ersten-opfer-des-kriegs.
‘Die Waffen nieder!’ (Lay Down Your Arms!) – statement and brief assessment by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights on the war of aggression in Ukraine, 7 March 2022, pp. 1–6, available at https://gmr.lbg.ac.at/sites/files/bim/attachments/07032022_fremuth_michael_lysander_die_waffen_nieder.pdf.
‘Lockdown für Ungeimpfte laut Experten ‘zulässig’’ (Lockdown for the Unvaccinated ‘Permissible’ According to Experts), interview, Ö1 Mittagsjournal, 15 January 2022, available at https://orf.at/stories/3243783/.
‘Vorbild Österreich?’ (Austria as a Model?), interview, NJW aktuell, 10 February 2022.
2021
‘Le temps qui reste – Eine rechtsvergleichende Betrachtung der verfassungsgerichtlichen Entscheidungen zur Suizidassistenz in Deutschland und Österreich’ (Le temps qui reste – A Comparative-Law Analysis of Constitutional Court Decisions on Assisted Suicide in Germany and Austria), in Zeitschrift für öffentliches Recht, pp. 841–913.
‘Resource Mining and Human Rights’ in Fremuth/Griebel/Heinsch (eds.), Natural Resources and International Law – Developments and Challenges, A Liber Amicorum in Honour of Stephan Hobe, 1st ed., Nomos/Hart, pp. 145–196.
‘Besser spät als nie? – Plädoyer für eine Fortentwicklung des verfassungsgerichtlichen Eilrechtsschutzes in Österreich’ (Better Late than Never? – A Plea for the Further Development of Interim Constitutional Judicial Protection in Austria) (with Roman Friedrich) in Österreichische Juristen-Zeitung, pp. 658–665.
‘Tempus fugit! – Zur Frage des einstweiligen Rechtsschutzes in Normprüfungsverfahren in Österreich und Deutschland sowie dessen Relevanz im Rahmen der Bekämpfung der Covid-19-Pandemie’ (Tempus fugit! – Interim Relief in Judicial Review Proceedings in Austria and Germany and Its Relevance in the Context of Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic) (with Roman Friedrich) in Österreichische Juristen-Zeitung, pp. 416–423.
‘Homosexualität als Herausforderung für die Universalität der Menschenrechte’ (Homosexuality as a Challenge to the Universality of Human Rights) in Lauss (ed.), Ideal – Pflicht – Zumutung, Menschenrechtsbildung aus multidisziplinärer Perspektive, 1st ed., Schneider Verlag, pp. 8–25.
‘Introductory Note on the Decision of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in Prosecutor v. Ayyash et al. (STL-11-01/T/TC)’ in International Legal Materials, pp. 1–91.
‘Wie Versöhnung in unversöhnlichen Zeiten gelingen kann’ (How Reconciliation Can Succeed in Irreconcilable Times), interview, Der Standard, 24 December 2021, available at https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000132144896/wie-versoehnung-in-unversoehnlichen-zeiten-gelingen-kann.
‘Impfpflichtdebatte: Stellen Sie Ihre Fragen an Minister Mückstein und die Expertenrunde’ (Compulsory Vaccination Debate: Put Your Questions to Minister Mückstein and the Panel of Experts), Der Standard Mitreden, 19 December 2021, available at https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000131940754/oesterreich-vor-der-impfpflichtder-grosse-wumms-oder-doch-nur-ein.
‘Impfpflicht ab Februar – mit Grundrechten vereinbar?’ (Compulsory Vaccination from February – Compatible with Fundamental Rights?), Der Standard, Kommentar der anderen, 16 December 2021, p. 27, available at https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000131938574/impfpflicht-ab-februar-mit-grundrechten-vereinbar.
‘Impfpflicht in Österreich kommt – ‘Keiner wird festgehalten und dann geimpft’’ (Compulsory Vaccination Is Coming in Austria – ‘No One Will Be Detained and Then Vaccinated’), podcast Wieder was gelernt, NTV, 16 December 2021, available at https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Podcast-Wieder-was-gelernt-zur-Impfpflicht-in-Osterreich-Keiner-wird-festgehalten-und-dann-geimpft-article23000708.html.
‘Menschenrechtsexperte: ‘Impfplicht ist ohne Zweifel ein Eingriff in die Freiheit’’ (Human Rights Expert: ‘Compulsory Vaccination Is Without Doubt an Interference with Freedom’), interview, Puls24 Newsroom, 4 December 2021, available at https://www.puls24.at/video/puls-24-newsroom-live/menschenrechtsexperte-impfplicht-ist-ohne-zweifel-ein-eingriff-in-die-freiheit/v-cg5rel7wxqip.
‘Mein Körper gehört mir? Warum die Einführung einer allgemeinen Impfpflicht gegen Covid-19 eine vorrangig politische, und die Impfung keine rein individuelle Entscheidung (mehr) ist’ (My Body Belongs to Me? Why the Introduction of General Compulsory Vaccination against COVID-19 Is Primarily a Political Decision and Vaccination Is No Longer a Purely Individual Decision), guest comment, Die Presse, 24 November 2021, pp. 26–27, available at https://www.diepresse.com/6065159/mein-koerper-gehoert-mir-die-impfpflicht-ist-erlaubt.
‘Compulsory Vaccination in Austria’, interview, Deutsche Welle, 20 November 2021, available at https://bim.lbg.ac.at/de/artikel/aktuelles/michael-lysander-fremuth-interview-deutsche-welle-tv-zur-impfpflicht-oesterreich.
‘Über die Impfpflicht aus menschenrechtlicher Sicht’ (On Compulsory Vaccination from a Human Rights Perspective), APA interview, 19 November 2021, received, inter alia, by ORF (https://orf.at/stories/3237183/) and Krone (https://www.krone.at/2559926).
‘Fußball und Menschenrechte: ‘Mascherl’ Menschenrechte?’ (Football and Human Rights: Human Rights as a Mere ‘Ribbon’?) (with Marcel Igl and Tom Kandathil), Kommentar der anderen, Der Standard, 16 July 2021, p. 30, available at https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000128219311/mascherl-menschenrechte.
‘Heikle Verhandlungen: Sterbehilfe, aber wie?’ (Difficult Negotiations: Assisted Dying, but How?), panel discussion, Ö1, 7 July 2021.
‘Ist der Datenschutz ein Hindernis bei der Pandemiebekämpfung?’ (Is Data Protection an Obstacle to Fighting the Pandemic?), interview, Der Standard, 22 May 2021, available at https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000126782176/ist-der-datenschutz-ein-hindernis-bei-der-pandemiebekaempfung.
‘Des Menschen (freier) Wille ist sein Himmelreich!’ (A Person’s Free Will Is Their Kingdom of Heaven!), guest comment in favour of assisted suicide, Wiener Zeitung, 23 April 2021, p. 23, available at https://www.wienerzeitung.at/meinung/gastkommentare/2101097-Ein-Plaedoyer-fuer-Beihilfe-zum-Suizid.html.
‘Impfpflicht – zur Entscheidung des EGMR v. 8.4.2021 (Vavřička u.a. / Tschechien)’ (Compulsory Vaccination – On the ECtHR Judgment of 8 April 2021 (Vavřička and Others v. the Czech Republic)), interview, Radio Austria, 9 April 2021.
‘Wunschtraum: Bildung – für alle?’ (Pipe Dream: Education – for Everyone?), article, Der Falter – Bildungsbeilage, 3 March 2021, p. 18, available at https://www.falter.at/zeitung/20210303/bildung–fuer-alle/_fbcd5a02e0.
‘Verbrechen gegen die Menschheit – Geschichte und Aktualität eines juristischen Tatbestands’ (Crimes against Humanity – History and Contemporary Relevance of a Legal Offence), interview, Ö1 (with Andreas Sauermoser), 9 February 2021, available at https://bim.lbg.ac.at/de/artikel/aktuelles/audio-verbrechen-gegen-menschheit-geshichte-aktualitaet-eines-juristischen-tatbestands-oe1-dimensionen-922021.