Mehrdad Payandeh

Professor Dr. Mehrdad Payandeh holds the Chair of Public Law II – International Law, European Law, and Public Law at Bucerius Law School since 2016. His expertise spans international law, European constitutional law, and anti-discrimination law, with a focus on interactions between national and international legal frameworks.

• Born in Tehran (1978), raised in Düsseldorf
• LL.M. from Yale Law School (2010)
• Habilitation in constitutional law (2016)
• Member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (2020–2024)

Research interests include:

• International human rights protection mechanisms
• Climate change implications in human rights law
• UN legal frameworks and state responsibility
• Anti-discrimination law under Grundgesetz and international treaties

His recent publications address topics like UN Charter obligations, EU equality directives, and climate-related human rights obligations. He has contributed to debates on international judicial systems, European legal architecture, and anti-discrimination frameworks.

Scientific awards:

• Förderpreis der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf (2009)
• Preis der Gesellschaft von Freunden der Heinrich-Heine-Universität (2017)

As UN expert, he analyzed state compliance with anti-discrimination treaties and contributed to constitutional debates on German legal adaptations. His teaching emphasizes clarity through student engagement, which he considers vital for academic understanding.