• Human Rights in Germany

    The failure of German authorities for more than a decade to identify a neo-Nazi gang who murdered nine migrants highlighted the shortcomings of its response to hate violence.  Parliament adopted a law in September 2011 exempting school personnel from having to report undocumented migrants, but left the obligation in place for health care and labor court personnel. In August 2011, Rheinland-Pfalz became the sixth federal state to grant asylum seekers freedom of movement. The other ten states require asylum seekers to stay in a certain geographical area or face fines or prison. 

  • A man is arrested by German federal police before a rally in the town of Remagen on November 19, 2011.
    © Reuters
    Germany: Police Training Key to Curbing Hate Violence
    German law enforcement authorities need better training to effectively identify, investigate, and prosecute racist, homophobic, and other hate violence.
More news »

Featured Content

Subscribe to content feed

Reports

More >>

Germany

  • EU: Provide Protection for Syrian Refugees
    Dec 23, 2012
    The European Union and its member states should do more to help the thousands of Syrian asylum seekers trying to reach Europe as the Syrian crisis worsens and winter sets in.
  • EU: Enact Controls on Digital Weapons Trade
    Dec 11, 2012

    The European Union should enact new controls on internet surveillance technologies that have enabled human rights violations. The European Parliament adopted a new digital freedom strategy in EU foreign policy in the plenary on December 11.

  • Russia: Merkel Should Press Putin on Rights
    Nov 13, 2012
    Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany should urge President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to end the crackdown on his country’s civil society when the two leaders meet on November 16, 2012.
  • EU: Turn Rights Promises Into Actions
    Jun 25, 2012
    With the adoption on June 25, 2012, of a comprehensive human rights package, European Union (EU) foreign ministers made a powerful pledge to prioritize human rights in EU policy at home and abroad. Now EU institutions and all 27 member states will have to exercise a firm, coherent, and uniform approach to human rights abuses worldwide, in a transparent and accountable manner.
  • Russia: Putin’s Visit to Germany, France Needs Rights Focus
    May 30, 2012
    The leaders of France and Germany should urge President Vladimir Putin of Russia to mark the beginning of his third presidential term by making human rights a priority, both at home and abroad, Human Rights Watch said today. Putin will make brief visits to Berlin and Paris to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Francois Hollande, the new president of France, on June 1, 2012.
  • Beyond Breivik, Hate in Europe is on the Rise
    Apr 25, 2012
    With the eyes of the world on the Oslo district court, there are stark contrasts on display. The twisted and hate-filled logic of Anders Breivik contrasts with the calm, dignified and above all fair criminal process against him.
  • Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev’s Visit to Berlin
    Feb 10, 2012
    Take a map of Central Asia, and German diplomats and business people who know the region are likely to identify Kazakhstan as the most important and stable player in an otherwise troubled part of the world.
  • Kazakhstan/Germany: Make Rights Key to Good Relations
    Feb 6, 2012
    German Chancellor Angela Merkel should raise urgent human rights concerns with the Kazakhstan government during talks with President Nursultan Nazarbaev on February 8, 2012.
  • EU: Rights Abuse at Home Ignored
    Jan 22, 2012
    The European Union and member governments proved unwilling to tackle human rights abuse at home during 2011, even as they proclaimed the issue’s importance in inspiring the Arab Spring, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2012.
  • Letter to German Foreign Minister on Camp Ashraf in Iraq
    Dec 16, 2011
    We are writing to you before the December 31 announced closure of Camp Ashraf (also known as Camp New Iraq) to urge the government of Germany to take proactive steps to help prevent the stand-off between the Iraqi government and the leadership of the Mohjahedin-e Khalq (MEK) from deteriorating further at a critical moment in Iraq’s precarious transition to democratic rule.
more documents on this topic »