Information and documentation are some of the Institute's core tasks. Even our founding statutes stipulated the "establishment and operation of a specialised library". Since 2015, the operation of the library has also been legally anchored in the German Institute for Human Rights law.
Library
Since 2002, we have been collecting printed and electronic publications on human rights issues in our publicly accessible library. In order to make our holdings easier to find, we list them in regional and national union catalogues.
Information
Our basic information and link collections on human rights treaties and protection mechanisms are intended as a guide to the complex system of international and European human rights protection.
Documentation
A freely accessible database makes it easier to find documents and reports in the global human rights protection system that are relevant to Germany.
Networking
We maintain our profile as a specialist library by way of cooperation with other libraries and library associations.
Events
We organise readings on human rights topics for the general public. We offer training courses on accessibility for libraries and research training courses for universities. We appear as speakers at events.
Main areas of focus
We campaign nationally and internationally to make libraries more accessible and inclusive.
Working methods
Libraries contribute to the realisation of people’s rights to information, education and cultural participation. As public institutions, they have a duty to make their collections and services accessible to everyone, free from discrimination and in the spirit of inclusion. We share this approach with libraries and library associations worldwide.
