Exhibition “René Cassin, a Fighter for Peace” (10 April – 11 July 2026)

René Cassin, a Fighter for Peace

From 10 April to 11 July 2026 — Strasbourg

In 2026, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of René Cassin (1887–1976), the National and University Library of Strasbourg (BNU) and the René Cassin Foundation – International Institute of Human Rights present an exhibition trail dedicated to one of the great French and international architects of human rights and peace.

This exhibition invites visitors to understand an extraordinary journey: that of a jurist who became involved in the Resistance at an early stage, went on to become a major figure in democratic reconstruction, and later emerged as a central actor in the international protection of human rights.

Un parcours pour relier l’histoire, le droit et la paix

The exhibition highlights the coherence of a single struggle: making law a bulwark against arbitrariness and an instrument of peace. Through the major moments of his public life, René Cassin emerges as a man of continuity: republican continuity in times of war, legal continuity in reconstruction, and institutional continuity in the defense of human rights.

What you will discover

Presented in the BNU’s visitable reserves (5th floor), the exhibition trail provides access to around fifty previously unpublished documents, notably from René Cassin’s private collection preserved at the National Archives, as well as from partner collections (including, among others, the Museum of the Order of the Liberation).

These items allow visitors to follow René Cassin as closely as possible: his responsibilities, his writings, his commitments, his struggles—and the way in which they are embedded in the major upheavals of the 20th century.

The main themes of the exhibition

The struggles of Free France

A member of the Resistance from the very beginning, René Cassin joined General de Gaulle in London as early as 1940. There, he played a crucial role by providing Free France with a legal foundation and institutional recognition, while at the same time preparing the restoration of republican legality and the organization of peace.

Building law, defending justice

After the war, Cassin held leading positions in the service of the rule of law in France (notably at the Council of State and later at the Constitutional Council), while also contributing to the establishment of international protection mechanisms.

Human rights on the international stage

From 1946 onwards, he represented France within the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and contributed to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948. He later became a major figure of the European Court of Human Rights, which he presided over from 1965 to 1968.

Practical informations

  • Dates: from 10 April to 11 July 2026

  • Location: BNU of Strasbourg — visitable reserves (5th floor)

  • Access: in accordance with the BNU’s conditions of admission and opening hours (self-guided and/or guided visits depending on the programme).

Useful links

Categories: Commemoration