On April 22, 2026, Prof. Dr. Emanuel V. Towfigh participated in a high-profile panel discussion at Ruhr University Bochum at the invitation of Prof. Dr. Stefan Huster. Together with the Minister of Justice of North Rhine-Westphalia, Dr. Benjamin Limbach, as well as Silke Tölle-Pusch and Melina Petrovic from ArbeiterKind.de gGmbH, the participants explored ways to sustainably strengthen diversity within legal education and practice.

The debate was prompted by the concerning observation that diversity among law students decreases significantly as the duration of their studies increases. In his keynote address, Prof. Towfigh emphasized that diversity is far more than a “nice-to-have” for the legal system. He argued that for citizens to maintain trust in the rule of law, it is essential that they experience being represented within the legal framework. Therefore, promoting diversity is not merely a matter of individual justice but a necessary investment in the stability of our constitutional order.

There was a clear consensus among all participants that removing structural obstacles to diversity is a collective responsibility. It should not rest solely on the shoulders of those affected to fight for their own representation. The ultimate goal must be a state governed by the rule of law in which everyone subject to its order is also reflected in its institutions. Further information can be found at Justiz NRW.

[Translated by DeepL]