Alexandre Berenstein

Alexandre Berenstein, 1909-2000, was born in Paris on 19 January. He received the degree of Master of Law from the University of Geneva in 1929, followed by the degrees of licencié en sociologie in 1930 and docteur en droit in 1936. From 198 to 1979 he taught labour law, international labour law, social security law and private insurance law in the law faculty of the University of Geneva. Appointed Professor in 1951, he was Dean of the law faculty from 1960 to 1966 and professor emeritus since 1970. He was Vice President and then, from 1970 to 1979, President of the International School for Comparative Labour Law in Trieste. He has lectured in many countries.

Professor Berenstein was a barrister at the Geneva bar from 1939 to 1970. In 1970 he was elected to the Swiss Federal Court and was a judge in this court until 1979. From 1979 to 1987 he was President of the Federal Board of Conciliation for Labour Disputes.

The author of many publications in the field of labour and social law, Professor Berenstein was Secretary General of the International Society for Labour Law and Social Security from 1958 to 1974. In 1974 he was elected Honorary President of this Society. He was President of the International Association for Social Progress and was President of the Swiss Association for Social Politics. A former President of the Workers' University of Geneva he was, from 1983 to 1991, President of the International Peace Research Institute in Geneva (GIPRI) and became the honorary President of this Institute. Professor Berenstein was a consultant expert for the Council of Europe and accomplished various missions for other international organizations, especially for the International Labour Office.