International recognition for academic achievements and public service
The Faculty of Law at the University of Potsdam conferred this prestigious distinction in recognition of Professor Bodnar’s academic accomplishments in the fields of fundamental rights, human rights, as well as Polish and comparative constitutional law. Furthermore, the institution acknowledged his efforts to protect human rights and democratic standards. The laudatory speech during the official ceremony at the Griebnitzsee campus was delivered by Professor Andreas Zimmermann, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Potsdam. Jan Tombiński, Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Republic of Poland in Germany, and Frank Schwabe, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, delivered congratulatory speeches to the laureate.
The ceremony concluded with a guest lecture by Prof. Adam Bodnar, which graced the end-of-academic-year celebrations at the University of Potsdam.
The conferral of this honorary doctorate reflects the long-standing academic cooperation between Poland and Germany. Professor Bodnar collaborated with Professor Zimmermann on a research project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), which examined the role of international law in a changing global order.
This marks the second such distinction in Professor Bodnar’s career. In May 2024, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Łódź.
Professor Andreas Zimmermann delivers the laudatory speech | Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Professor Adam Bodnar and Jan Tombiński among the audience | Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Frank Schwabe delivers a congratulatory speech | Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Jan Tombiński delivers a congratulatory speech | Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Conferral of the honorary doctorate on Professor Adam Bodnar | Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Adam Bodnar and ceremony attendees | Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Adam Bodnar and ceremony attendees | Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Adam Bodnar delivers a lecture | Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Professor Adam Bodnar| Photo: Ernst Kaczynski
Lawyer, ombudsman, minister
Professor Adam Bodnar is a legal expert specializing in constitutional law and human rights. From 2023 to 2025, he served as the Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General of the Republic of Poland, and from 2015 to 2021, he held the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Poland. He is the former Vice-President of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (2015–2021). Since 2023, he has also served as a member of the Polish Senate.
At SWPS University, he teaches courses on human rights, the implementation of constitutional standards, and the analysis of current issues in Polish law. From 2021 to 2023, he also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Law in Warsaw.
Read Professor Adam Bodnar's full bio