Human Rights
Respect for and development of human rights are a key priority for the German Government.
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The right for drinking water
(© picture-alliance/ Ton Koene)
Germany's human rights policy in international relations has a concrete obligation: to protect individuals from violations of their rights and basic freedoms and to create a viable framework to ensure that suppression, the arbitrary use of power and exploitation no longer have a chance to flourish.
This aspiration is derived from the Basic Law. In Article 1 human rights are described as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world. So the text immediately places the subject of human rights in an international context.
Principles of German human rights policy
- Concern for the individual is the focus of human rights policy. Human rights protection does not differentiate between Germans and non-Germans, between members of majorities and minorities.
- Human rights are indivisible and must not be played off against each other. The aim of German human rights policy is worldwide implementation and protection of the entire range of civic, political, economic, social and cultural human rights. In this connection, the Federal Government is also working towards the elaboration of a concept of the right to development on which consensus can be reached.
- The Federal Government is committed to the universal validity of human rights and is thus opposed to cultural relativism in relation to human rights. At the same time, it categorically rejects hostile stereotypes and arrogance towards other cultures.
- Human rights policy begins at home. Only on this basis can international human rights policy be credible. Germany has therefore submitted to various instruments of control under numerous international conventions which give the international community the right and possibility to monitor and examine the observance of human rights in Germany.
- Grave human rights violations endanger or destroy international stability and security, dent countries' economic prosperity and harm their economic and social development, whereas protection and promotion of human rights release human resources, creativity and energy and serve the interests of stability, peace and development. The protection and promotion of human rights are therefore in the political interest of all states.
- Where people cannot be otherwise protected from violations of their rights and fundamental freedoms, international controls, international pressure and public criticism must be used to enforce these rights and freedoms. However, the heart of preventive diplomacy remains a human rights policy and conflict prevention based on dialogue and cooperation. Dialogue and cooperation in human rights policy are provided for in the UN Charter (Article 56).
- Human rights policy is a horizontal task covering all policy fields. Moreover, it is dependent on a continual exchange of opinions and experiences with interested sections of the public.
Commitment to human rights – the Federal Government’s annual Human Rights Report
Germany promotes respect for human rights all over the world. In adopting the 9th Human Rights Report of the Federal Government, Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle emphasised the central role played by human rights in German domestic and foreign policy.
Special Topics
Children´s rights, improving women’s human rights, campaigning agains the death penalty are of great importance for the German Government. As is its engagement in the fight against torture and abuse.
Human Rights Council
On 15 March 2006 the United Nations General Assembly voted by a large majority to replace the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) with a new Human Rights Council (Resolution 60/251).
Human Rights Day
Human rights have many faces. Children, women, activists, the disabled, victims of torture and human trafficking – they all need the special protection of the international community. To ensure that the victims are not forgotten, Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10 December every year. It commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948.
Protection of human rights defenders
The German Government actively supports the work of human rights defenders around the world. In particular it seeks to promote better protection for human rights defenders and comprehensive recognition that, from a human rights standpoint, their activities make a major contribution to societal development in their home countries.
