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General human rights
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The importance of human rights in German development policy
The German government views development policy as a form of practical human rights policy. It sees the realisation of human rights as the key to sustainable poverty reduction. A human rights-based approach to development cooperation promotes non-discrimination and equality of opportunity, participation and empowerment, transparency and accountability. With its human rights approach, the German government promotes a form of development cooperation which views the people as agents of their own development. This approach brings about a shift in perspective: those in "need" and "target groups" are seen as bearers of rights and state partners as bearers of duties.
Development Policy Action Plan on Human Rights
In early 2008 BMZ drew up its second Development Policy Action Plan on Human Rights (2008-2010) by means of which it aims to further embed human rights in German development policy. This Action Plan addresses issues raised in the first Action Plan (2004-2007) in which the Ministry set out its voluntary commitment to adopt a human rights approach in its development cooperation work.
In updating its Action Plan the German government has underlined the importance of realising civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights. This is a basic prerequisite of target group-oriented and sustainable poverty reduction, peacebuilding, and fair, environmentally-friendly globalisation.
In future Germany's work on sustainable development is to be oriented more than ever before to the structural causes of poverty, social exclusion and violent conflicts. Support is to be given, in particular, to those social groups that are most affected by discrimination: women, children, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities.
The Action Plan covers the following concrete measures:
Strengthening human rights in partner countries and regions:
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Deepening the close links between efforts to implement the Millennium Development Goals and efforts to realise human rights.
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Involvement in political dialogue and advice to policy-makers aimed at strengthening economic, social, cultural, civil and political human rights in close cooperation with other donors.
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Adopting a human rights-based approach to cooperation within the context of programme-oriented joint financing.
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Supporting the human rights of population groups that are in need of special protection in fragile states.
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Supporting reconciliation processes and the prevention of violent conflicts in post-conflict countries.
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Supporting the shaping of human rights-based policies in the context of dialogue and consultancy in anchor countries.
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Supporting the implementation of international transparency initiatives at national level.
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Involvement in realising sexual and reproductive health and rights.
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Supporting the implementation of international treaties and agreements aimed at empowering women and strengthening their rights.
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Supporting the implementation of international treaties and agreements aimed at empowering children, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities.
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Strengthening national and international human rights institutions.
At international level:
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Involvement in continuously expanding the policy framework to establish links between the Millennium Development Goals and human rights.
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Supporting the efforts of member states to establish more coherency when linking human rights and development policy within the framework of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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Involvement within the United Nations Human Rights Council in implementing the right to development.
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Involvement in further implementing the right to food.
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Focusing on the link between climate change and human rights.
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Involvement within the European Union in updating the Commission of the European Union's Communication on human rights.
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Involvement in mainstreaming human rights in the work of international financial institutions.
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Involvement in observing human rights and suitable implementation instruments in public-private partnerships and in dialogue with transnational companies.
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Involvement worldwide in realising the social dimension of globalisation.
Institutionalising the human rights approach in German development policy:
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Integrating the human rights approach into the German Development Ministry's policy-regulating instruments.
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Supporting the implementation of the human rights approach as an important cross-cutting issue in Germany's operative development cooperation.
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Promoting internal training and further training in the human rights approach.
BMZ's contribution to a coherent German development policy:
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Working towards finding a common position within the German government to strengthen international human rights.
Cooperation with civil society and non-governmental organisations:
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Strengthening human rights work worldwide in cooperation with civil society and non-governmental organisations.
The German Institute for Human Rights
Close cooperation between civil society, the academic community and politicians is essential – in Germany too – if human rights are to be promoted worldwide. BMZ therefore contributed significantly to the establishing and financing of an independent German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR). This was founded in March 2001 on the recommendation of the German Bundestag.
The Institute provides information on the human rights situation in Germany and other countries and contributes to the prevention of human rights violations and the promotion and protection of human rights. Its tasks comprise, among other things, conducting research, providing advice to policy-makers and social players, and educational work. The German Institute for Human Rights receives funding from the federal budget. In order to safeguard the Institute's independence, the federal ministries have no voting rights in its decision-making body.
Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid
The Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the German Bundestag is increasingly looking into human rights issues in developing countries. The Committee focuses, for example, on development in Afghanistan and the observance of human rights in Islamic countries.
Information
Publications
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Human rights in practice: Fact sheets on a human rights-based approach in development cooperation
BMZ Information Brochure
(PDF 1.5 MB, accessible) -
Human Rights in German Development Policy
BMZ Strategy Paper
(PDF 574 KB, accessible) -
Promoting democracy in German development policy: Supporting political reform processes and popular participation
Special 137
(PDF 482 KB)
