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Human rights

Internally displaced people queue up, for food aid at the Jamhuri grounds, Nairobi, Kenya. January 2008. Copyright: Julius Mwelu/IRIN

Realising human rights – Securing freedom

Human rights – A key prerequisite for development

Millions of women, men and children in developing countries cannot change the circumstances in which they are living by their own efforts alone because they are being denied basic human rights: More than a billion people worldwide go hungry. Every year some three million women and girls undergo genital mutilation. 75 million children worldwide have no access to primary schooling. The list could go on and on...


Human rights – An international matter of concern

International development cooperation aims to contribute to the fulfilling of civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights. Germany has also pledged to help achieve that goal. Up until the Second World War the protection of human rights was predominantly a national issue. It was during that war that the Allies declared they wanted to create an enabling environment in which all human beings could live in peace and without fear and want.


International institutions for the protection of human rights

Various organs of the United Nations are responsible for the protection and realisation of human rights. Eight committees of experts monitor compliance with the most important human rights agreements, for example. The International Criminal Court prosecutes serious human rights violations as war crimes or crimes against humanity; regional communities of states have likewise founded institutions for the protection of human rights.


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.


Activities: Realising human rights

Where development policy helps to reduce poverty, improve people's health, increase social security and enable political participation and self-help, it contributes to the realisation of human rights. Germany is working at various levels – at global level, in partner countries and in Germany – to achieve that goal.


Further information

Here you will find a selection of links to documents and websites with further information on general human rights.



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