Political prisoners need support but are also important interlocutors for foreign policymakers

At a workshop on April 29 hosted by GPPi, representatives from NGOs, academia and the executive and legislative branches of government discussed Germany’s role in freeing political prisoners. Attention to individual cases is a critical part of foreign policy vis-à-vis authoritarian states. Such attention offers protection against harsh prison conditions. However, it is important to look beyond the most famous individuals and seek to understand and address systemic reasons for abuse. In this endeavor, political prisoners serve as knowledgeable interlocutors for foreign policymakers.