14th Human Rights Report of the Federal Government
The Cabinet has adopted the 14th Human Rights Report. It sets out key developments in Germany’s human rights policy and in the international and European systems to protect human rights.
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One focus of the engagement of the German government in the field of human rights is on fighting discrimination on the basis of sexual and gender identity.
Photo: picture-alliance/ dpa
One main focus is Germany’s work within the United Nations Security Council to promote human rights. The report also lays out the future priorities of the German government in important areas of human rights protection at both national and international level.
Global trend sees greater restrictions on human rights
Human rights policy is a cross-cutting issue that is relevant across every policy field, particularly in view of the increasing global trend to restrict individual human rights. Achievements in the field of equal opportunities are being reversed, the scope for civil society to act is becoming more limited, and freedom of expression and freedom of the press are being curtailed. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated many of these problems.
Within its ongoing engagement to strengthen human rights the German government is countering this trend. As a non-permanent member, Germany managed to get the United Nations Security Council to adopt Resolution 2467 on sexual violence in conflicts during Germany’s Presidency of the Security Council. Germany is thus building on the women, peace and security agenda, which aims to ensure greater protection against sexual violence in conflicts and step up the involvement of women in conflict resolution and transformation.
Human rights and artificial intelligence
In addition, within the UN Security Council, Germany has been spotlighting women’s rights, the protection of defenders of human rights and the whole area of human rights and artificial intelligence.
The Action Plan for Human Rights 2021/2022 lays out the future priorities for the German government’s engagement in the field of human rights. The focus will be on fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, protecting civil society’s scope for action, fighting legal impunity and the issue of human rights and digital transformation.
The Human Rights Report of the Federal Government is presented once every two years. This report covers the period 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2020. Numerous federal ministries are involved in compiling the report under the aegis of the Federal Foreign Office.