GPPi publishes commentary on human rights in Germany’s foreign policy

GPPi researchers Katrin Kinzelbach and Julian Lehmann have contributed a commentary to an ongoing debate about values in German foreign policy. In an op-ed published by the German daily Frankfurter Rundschau on 9 April 2013, they argue that, despite the rhetoric of human rights protection in foreign policy, the German government does not have a systematic strategy.

Germany committed to human rights as a fundamental principle of foreign policy through its membership in the European Union and numerous international human rights treaties. The treaties bind German government officials and their actions both at home and abroad. Kinzelbach and Lehmann insist that Germany should not question the importance of human rights in foreign policy but discuss how a principled foreign policy could become more credible and effective.

They propose strategic goal formulation and greater accountability to the federal parliament, partnerships with countries that already pursue a principled foreign policy, and an institutional strengthening of human rights, notably by bolstering the mandate of the government’s representative for human rights. With regard to Germany’s current membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council, they propose a stronger focus on country specific monitoring.

Visit the GPPi program page on human rights to learn more about the institute’s work on this topic.