![[Translate to Englisch:] Hendrik Simon und Philippe Sands im Gespräch auf einer Bühne. Links sitzt Philippe Sands und hört zu, rechts spricht Hendrik Simon in ein Mikrofon](/fileadmin/Daten/Bilder/Newsbilder/Sands_Simon_2.png)
At the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair, PRIF researcher Hendrik Simon discussed with this year’s recipient of the Peace Prize by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association Philippe Sands about the history, present, and future of international law. Furthermore, they adressed the role that law can play in a world marked by mass violence and destruction. Sands and Simon agreed: International law is far from perfect – but by no means on the verge of collapse, as is often claimed.
The focus was on, among other things, Sand’s books, ranging from his “East West Street” (2016) to his new book, “The Fifth Crime,” which addresses the proposed introduction of ecocide as the fifth crime under the International Criminal Court, alongside war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression.
The British-French jurist, human rights barrister, and author Philippe Sands is this year’s recipient of the Peace Prize by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association. The prize recognises Sands as an important voice for justice, peace and the defence of international law.
In his books – most notably the celebrated East West Street trilogy – Sands explores the origins of modern international criminal law; legal concepts such as “genocide” and “crimes against humanity”; immunity and human rights; and questions of colonialism. In doing so, he brings together issues of international criminal law, painstaking historical research and personal stories.
Furthermore, the taz has published a conversation between Philippe Sands and Hendrik Simon (in German).
A full-length version in English can be found on Völkerrechtsblog.