Born in Vienna, Hannes Tretter was a passionate sailor and an accomplished opera connoisseur who dedicated his personal and professional life to the protection of fundamental and human rights. He received his doctorate from the University of Vienna in 1975 and, after his court training year (1976) and a stage at the Constitutional Court (1976–1978), he returned to his alma mater, where he completed his habilitation in the subject of ‘Fundamental and Human Rights’ (2004). He was first a university assistant at the Institute for Constitutional and Administrative Law, then an assistant professor before he finally became an associate professor.

Until recently, he was committed to academic teaching, focusing not only on constitutional law and human rights in general, but also on topics such as environment and data protection, terrorism, democracy and the rule of law as well as freedom of expression and art, thus always demonstrating his excellent intuition for current and future challenges. He was a highly esteemed teacher to his students in Vienna and at various other institutions. In his role as director of the Straniak Academy for Democracy and Human Rights, Hannes Tretter was also committed to the cross-national networking of prospective scientists for many years.

In the run-up to the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, which Hannes Tretter supported by coordinating the participating civil society organisations, he founded the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights together with Felix Ermacora and Manfred Nowak, of which he was co-director until 2019. He was not only a very committed, always supportive and valued colleague; his expertise and dedication also contributed significantly to the institute’s reputation far beyond Austria’s borders. Hannes Tretter led a great number of scientific projects himself, was a frequently consulted expert, for example for the European Union, and actively supported a number of civil society organisations as a board member, board chair or member.

European integration was of particular concern to him. He was passionately committed to EU projects, led collaborations with local partners, and advised governments and civil society actors on the implementation of reforms in the field of the rule of law and human rights.

He remained committed to the protection of human rights even after his retirement, and in 2020 he founded the Vienna Forum for Democracy and Human Rights, of which he was chairman of the board until recently.

Hannes Tretter leaves behind a remarkable oeuvre, and in him, fundamental and human rights lose a loyal companion.

Our deepest condolences go out to his family and all his loved ones.