Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials that brought Nazi war criminals to justice after World War Two, has died at age 103. Born in Transylvania, Ferencz immigrated with his family to the United States when he was 10 months old, where he eventually attended Harvard Law School. He served as a prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials at just 27 years old and then dedicated his life to advocating for the creation of an international criminal court.

Ferencz’s incredible legacy includes the prosecution of 22 German officers who led roving death squads during World War Two, contributing to the establishment of an international tribunal in The Hague, and donating significantly to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. His work on the Nuremberg trials was groundbreaking in establishing international law and holding war criminals accountable.

As the world mourns the loss of a leader in the quest for justice, Ferencz’s plea of humanity to law remains an important reminder of the necessity of international cooperation to uphold peace and dignity for all, regardless of race or creed.