Today, on the night of 9–10 November 1938, the sound of breaking glass echoed across Germany and Austria. Synagogues were burned, Jewish businesses and homes destroyed, and thousands of Jewish men were arrested. Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass”, was a turning point, when hatred and prejudice became open violence, sanctioned by the state.
This year, as we remember Kristallnacht, we also mark the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a set of protections created in direct response to the horrors of the Second World War. One of its most powerful commitments is found in Article 14, which states that the rights and freedoms set out in the Convention must be secured “without discrimination on any ground”.
In a world where division and scapegoating still threaten to take hold, Article 14 remains a living tool for hope. It reminds us that law can be a shield, protecting the vulnerable, and a bridge, connecting us across differences.
Kristallnacht is not just about destruction; it is also about the resilience of those who rebuilt, the solidarity of those who sheltered the persecuted, and the moral courage of those who spoke out. As we reflect today, we carry forward that spirit: to stand alongside others, to defend human dignity, and to work for a society where equality is not an aspiration, but a reality.
