The Institute

The German Institute for Human Rights is the independent National Human Rights Institution of Germany (§ 1 GIHR law). It is accredited according to the Paris Principles of the United Nations (A-status). The Institute’s activities include the provision of advice on policy issues, human rights education, information and documentation, applied research on human rights issues and cooperation with international organizations. It is supported by the German Bundestag. The Institute is mandated to monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and established Monitoring Bodies for these purposes. It is also mandated as National Rapporteur Mechanism under the Council of Europe Conventions on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and on Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Institute's Child Protection Policy.

Get to know the Institute staff.

All about the structure of the Institute: Association, Board of Trustees and Board of Directors.

The mandate, tasks and legal basis of the Institute.

The most important information about the Institute at a glance.

Tasks, focal points and working methods of our departments.

Research on Germany's human rights obligations.

Vacancies, traineeships and internships at the Institute.

You can find our public tenders and contracts for services here.

Act on the Legal Status and Tasks of the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMRG)

Since 2015, the Act on the Legal Status and Tasks of the German Institute for Human Rights has regulated the legal status, tasks and funding of the Institute. It is organised as a non-profit association and is financed by the German Bundestag and - for individual projects - from third-party funds.

History

The German Institute for Human Rights was founded on 8 March 2001 on the recommendation of the German Bundestag (unanimous decision on 7 December 2000). As Germany's national human rights institution, it is intended to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights in and by Germany.

On 10 July 2015, the Federal Council passed the Act on the Legal Status and Tasks of the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMRG). The German Bundestag had already passed the law for the German Institute for Human Rights on 18 June with the approval of all parliamentary groups.

Deutscher Bundestag Antrag: Einrichtung eines Deutschen Instituts für Menschenrechte (PDF, 44 KB, German, not barrier-free)

Deutscher Bundestag Plenarprotokoll: Stenographischer Bericht 140. Sitzung (PDF, 205 KB, German, not barrier-free)

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly,
Article 1 (10.12.1948)

The legal basis of the Institute and the association’s statutes.

Publikationen

The Strategy 2024-2028 presents the tasks that the Institute will prioritise in the coming years in accordance with its mandate to promote and protect human rights in and through Germany: Task 1: Advocating for the equality of all people and strengthening…

The annual report provides an insight into the Institute’s work in 2022. Topics among others: protecting women from violence, inclusive schooling for all, identifying and prosecuting racist crimes, human rights at major sporting events, trafficking in human…

In our strategic planning for 2019–2023, the Institute identified three key responsibilities that it would prioritise in its work. The first responsibility is to strengthen social cohesion. The second responsibility is to make human rights a positive force as…

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Act on the Legal Status and Tasks of the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMRG)

History

Legal basis

(Kopie 1)

Publikationen

Applying a human rights-based approach to the challenges of our time

Annual Report 2022

Annual Report 2021