World Heritage Watch mourns the loss of its founding member and long-time mentor Klaus Hüfner.
With his passing, Germany has lost the figure who shaped decades of engagement with the United Nations and, in particular, UNESCO.
As a cosmopolitan in the fledgling post-war Germany and with a background in education and research on four continents, he was able to move effortlessly between scientific institutions, national and international organizations, and civil society. His loss is all the more painful as foreign cultural and educational policy, as well as the global sustainability agenda, are increasingly threatened with marginalization in Germany.
Klaus Hüfner became a member of the German Society for the United Nations and the Berlin Committee for UNESCO Work (Berlin’s UNESCO Club) in the 1950s – at a time when Berlin was not yet divided, before Germany was admitted to UNESCO, and only months after the German UNESCO Commission had been founded in the western part of the country. Citing this early independence, he always resisted attempts to restrict the political independence of the German UNESCO clubs in the interests of German foreign policy.
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Klaus Hüfner
1939 – 2025
Klaus Hüfner observed UNESCO’s dramatic financial situation with great concern, especially when the US suspended its payments after Palestine had been admitted as a member. His appeals to the German chancellor to increase German contributions went unheard. All this left him increasingly disillusioned with state and quasi-state actors, but his indisputable analyses of UN and UNESCO finances did not fail to have an impact.
When World Heritage Watch was founded, it was only natural for us to ask him to join the association as a founding member, and it was an honor when he accepted without hesitation. We have always felt a special connection to him because he fully shared our position of critical engagement with world heritage and for more than a decade has always stood behind the mission of World Heritage Watch. Even when his strength was noticeably declining, he reliably stood by us with his valuable advice in all situations. Without the support he gave us through his unassailable international authority, we might sometimes have lost the courage to continue on our path. We owe a great deal to him for where we are today. We will not forget.
A globally respected cultural diplomat, an inconvenient voice of warning and fighter for a better world, a wonderful friend and a humorous person with inimitable Berlin charm has left us. However, he was able to ensure the continuation of his life’s work. His wife, Dr. Angelika Hüfner, continues his work in the Berlin Committee for UNESCO Work, and the German Society for the United Nations has a firm place in the institutional fabric of the Federal Republic of Germany. His research on the finances of the UN and UNESCO has been taken over by a highly qualified young professional. His commitment to world heritage is a lasting obligation for World Heritage Watch to continue his work in his spirit.
Berlin, December 5, 2025
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