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Germany Empty Promises Diplomatic Assurances No Safeguard Against Torture Individuals suspected of terrorism should never be returned to a country where they risk torture and ill-treatment. Promises of fair treatment by states with well-known records of torture are inherently unreliable, and governments that justify returns through such promises, known as “diplomatic assurances,” are violating the absolute prohibition against torture and eroding a fundamental principle of international law. The death penalty, however reprehensible, is legal and usually carried out publicly. But torture is illegal and practiced in secret. Governments routinely lie about whether they’re torturing people or not, and in some situations they may not even have adequate control to guarantee security. This 39-page report documents cases where governments returned or considered returning suspects on the basis of such formal guarantees, and raises concern that in some cases, those returned were, in fact, tortured or ill-treated. HRW Index No.: D1604 April 15, 2004 Download PDF, 360 KB, 39 pgs Purchase online Germany: Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 From the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers According to the Military Career Regulations and Article 5(1) of the Law on Military Service, volunteers may be recruited into the armed forces at the age of 17 with authorisation from a legal representative. Boys of 16 may enrol in the police forces and border guards. In its report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child the government reported that 17-year-olds are prohibited from participating in hostilities. Debate about conscription was renewed following the announcements of defence budget cuts in early 2001. June 12, 2001 Germany: Landmine Monitor Report 2000 Key developments since March 1999: In 1999, Germany contributed about US$18.1 million to humanitarian mine action programs, including its share of EU mine action spending. Germany served as the co-rapporteur for the SCE on Technologies for Mine Action. Germany signed the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT) in Ottawa on 3 December 1997 and deposited its instrument of ratification on 27 July 1998. Domestic implementation legislation was enacted on 9 July 1998. Germany was an early supporter of a ban on AP mines. It adopted an export moratorium in 1994, banned use of the weapon in 1996, and completed destruction of its stockpile in December 1997. August 1, 2000 “Germany for Germans” Xenophobia and Racist Violence in Germany Germany has been confronted with a disturbing escalation in violent crimes against those who are different, and especially those who are perceived as not ethnic German during the period since unification. Racism that is endemic in many societies has exploded in a public way in Germany. Hostility against foreigners has linked up with right-wing and neo-Nazi movements to yield incidents of brutal physical assaults and deaths. Due, in part, to more forceful government measures to combat xenophobic violence, there has been a significant decrease in the number of violent crimes against foreigners in Germany since 1993. However, foreigners' past experiences with police passivity in the face of right-wing violence coupled with the growing incidence of police brutality against foreigners make it probable that many such attacks go unreported. HRW Index No.: ISBN 1-56432-149-5 April 1, 1995 Germany for Germans Xenophobia and Racist Violence in Germany This report focuses on acts of violence by right-wing extremists and the response of the German state. While viewing extremist violence with great concern, Human Rights Watch/Helsinki at the same time opposes laws that prohibit the expression of anti-foreigner or anti-Semitic sentiments, as well as laws that prohibit groups that hold such views from forming associations and holding public gatherings, so long as that speech, association or assembly does not rise to the level of incitement to or participation in violence. While Human Rights Watch/Helsinki recognizes the historical context in which Germany first adopted such laws, we believe that such prohibitions on speech, association and assembly are overly broad. April 1, 1995 Download PDF, 596 KB, 167 pgs Printer friendly version Foreigners Out Xenophobia and Right-Wing Violence in Germany The following report sets out the background to the latest violence in Germany. It focuses primarily on violent attacks in the former German Democratic Republic, but some information is included on West Germany as well. The report also attempts to document the failure of the police to respond in an appropriate manner when foreigners' safety is in jeopardy, as well as the government policies that have contributed to the crisis. Violent attacks against foreigners continue with no sign of decreased frequency or intensity. Helsinki Watch will continue to monitor closely anti-foreigner violence in Germany, the government's response. Helsinki Watch plans to issue further reports on this topic. October 1, 1992 Download PDF, 263 KB, 42 pgs Printer friendly version
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