Department International Human Rights Policy

We aim to ensure improved respect for human rights in Germany's international policy. We are actively committed to this in various areas.

Policy advice

We advise political actors and institutions in Germany and abroad on human rights standards in their respective policy areas, and help them understand how to better fulfil these standards.

Information

We produce publications for various target groups and write specialist articles, statements and analyses in German, English and sometimes also in Spanish.

Networking

We work on and promote our areas of focus as a member of our European network (European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, ENNHRI) and our umbrella organisation (Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, GANHRI). We also cooperate with individual national human rights institutions on transnational issues.

Seminars and workshops

We regularly offer seminars, workshops and webinars on topics related to our work and appear as speakers at events.

Main areas of focus

• Development policy
• Business and human rights
• Climate-related policy and sustainability
• International human rights protection system: support for UN treaty committees

Working methods

Focus on Germany

As Germany's National Human Rights Institution, we are concerned with German international policy, not with the human rights practices of other countries.

Cooperation

We stand for cooperation on an equal footing with our sister institutions and other partners.

Legitimacy

Transparency and the participation of civil society are particularly important to us as we advise and support political processes.

Accountability

We want international policy and programmes to be accountable, not only to taxpayers, but also to those affected by the consequences of international policy.

Humility

International human rights policy is a broad field. We acknowledge that we don't know everything.