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The Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid 2 “The concept of human rights is one of the greatest achievements of civilisation in human history. Human rights are inalienable and apply to everyone – irrespective of gender, faith, race or political beliefs. This is what underpins the work of the German Bundes- tag’s Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid. We will continue to work towards ensuring a high level of respect for human rights around the world: that is our task and our obligation.” Gyde Jensen, FDP Chairwoman of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid 3 The German Bundestag’s decisions are prepared by its committees, which are estab- lished at the start of each elec- toral term. Four of them are stipulated by the Basic Law, the German constitution: the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Defence Committee, the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union and the Petitions Committee. The Budget Committee and the Committee for the Rules of Procedure are also required by law. The spheres of respon- sibility of the committees essentially reflect the Federal Government’s distribution of ministerial portfolios. This enables Parliament to scruti- nise the government’s work effectively. The Bundestag committees The German Bundestag sets political priorities of its own by establishing additional committees for specific sub- jects, such as sport, cultural affairs or tourism. In addition, special bodies such as parlia- mentary advisory councils, The committees discuss and committees of inquiry or deliberate on items referred study commissions can also to them by the plenary. They be established. The commit- also have the right to take up tees are composed of mem- issues on their own initiative, bers of all the parliamentary allowing them to set priorities groups, reflecting the balance in the parliamentary debate. of these groups in the German When necessary, they draw Bundestag. The distribution on external expertise – usu- of the chairs and deputy ally by holding public hear- chairs among the parliamen- ings. At the end of a commit- tary groups also reflects their tee’s deliberations, a majority relative strengths in the ple- of its members adopt a rec om- nary. In the current electoral mendation for a decision and term, the committees have a report, which serve as the between nine and 49 mem- basis for the plenary’s deci- bers. sion. 5 Germany is fully committed to universal human rights and has wide-ranging obligations in this context. The funda- mental rights enshrined in the Basic Law are directly binding on the legislature. The Euro- pean Convention on Human Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights are also bind- ing in the context of policy- making in Germany. The German Bundestag expressed its special commitment to human rights and humani- tarian aid in 1998 by setting up a dedicated Committee on Human Rights and Humani- tarian Aid. In doing so, the Bundestag accepted the role of a permanent advocate for people facing persecution and people in need around the world. Even today, funda- mental human rights are severely restricted or under threat in many countries, or are not even upheld in the first place. Human rights vio- lations remain widespread, including discrimination, per- secution, expulsion or oppres- The Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid sion of groups in society and entire peoples, and on grounds of gender. Torture and the death penalty also still remain in use in many countries. For Germany, human rights policy there- fore means monitoring very closely whether countries are which are connected to the complying with their human consequences of state repres- rights obligations, and inter- sion and of crises and con- vening where violations are flicts worldwide. Key issues found to be taking place. include the situation of ethnic, In light of the large number religious and other minorities, of protracted violent conflicts refugee flows, the shrinking and humanitarian crises, the space for civil society, the need for assistance is growing. protection of human rights Humanitarian aid can allevi- defenders, action to combat ate the hardship experienced torture, and the abolition of by those affected. However, it the death penalty. However, is essential for it to be supple- the Committee also focuses mented by preventive meas- on more general topics in its ures which help to avoid cri- work, such as the develop- ses emerging in the first place. ment of democracy in individ- ual countries and regions, or the impact of global economic The Committee’s work to activity on human rights. support human rights and Freedom of religion is another humanitarian aid priority. Around the world, people face repression due to As in previous electoral terms, their religious affiliation, and the Committee is currently this can stretch from margin- dealing with a wide spectrum alisation, discrimination and of human rights and human- persecution to torture and itarian problems, most of execution. 6 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CDU/CSU 3 ■ ■ ■ SPD 2 ■ ■ AfD 2 ■ ■ FDP 2 ■ ■ The Left Party 2 ■ ■ Alliance 90/The Greens Number of members: 17 Chairwoman: Gyde Jensen, FDP Deputy Chairman: Jürgen Braun, AfD 7 The Committee, chaired by Gyde Jensen (FDP), requests regular briefings from the In order to obtain informa- Federal Government on the tion and contribute to solving human rights situation and on problems, the Committee humanitarian aid services and engages in dialogue with deficits in the various crisis governments and parliaments, regions. While other commit- national and international tees deal with issues which organisations such as the fall primarily within the remit UNHCR (the UN Refugee of a single government depart- Agency), the Red Cross and ment, the issues for which the Red Crescent Movement, Committee is responsible are non-governmental organisa- split between several minis- tions (NGOs) and individual tries, especially the Federal human rights defenders. The Foreign Office, the Federal Committee organises hearings, Ministry for Economic Coop- consultations with experts eration and Development, and confidential discussions and the Federal Ministry in order to obtain relevant of the Interior, Building and information first-hand. Nor is Community. Other key it unusual for the Committee sources of information for the members to travel to political Committee are discussions and social flashpoints in order with representatives of inter- to form their own impressions national institutions and of the situation on the ground organisations, in particular and make direct contact with the United Nations, and rep- political decision-makers and resentatives of German and the people affected. international civil society. 8 The work carried out by the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid makes an effective contribution to alleviating humanitarian emergencies and strengthen- ing human rights worldwide. In concrete terms, the Mem- bers of the German Bundestag help, through their parliamen- from their own governments, tary work and the priorities because of their work to pro- they set in the federal budget, mote human rights, democ- to strengthen human rights racy and the rule of law. in Germany and abroad and When members of the Com- to mobilise assistance in mittee or other parliamentar- emergencies. ians meet these activists in The Committee also provides Berlin or abroad, this sends targeted support for human a signal to the governments rights defenders around the of the countries where these world. Human rights defend- human rights defenders are ers and dedicated journal- active, and offers them pro- ists often face severe threats tection and support in their and persecution, usually valuable work. 9 Human rights policy-making and humanitarian aid take place within the framework of international law. The Committee aims to develop this law into an internation- ally effective system to protect human rights. Existing institu- tions can count on the Com- these issues. For example, mittee’s long-term support. the UN special rapporteurs This applies in particular to produce detailed reports on the International Criminal individual countries, and on Court (ICC) in The Hague, subjects such as the fight which allows serious human against torture, the protection rights violations to be pun- of the freedom of religion and ished, and the European Court faith, and the situation of of Human Rights (ECHR) in indigenous peoples. The Strasbourg, which enables Human Rights Council uses individuals to legally enforce the recommendations arising their human rights. In the from these reports to create case of both of these bodies, public pressure for the global human rights violations are human rights situation to be prosecuted in a legally valid improved. It is also the high- form and before the eyes of est body to which all those the global public. The UN who seek to defend human Human Rights Council plays rights in their countries – a particularly important role often risking their lives in the in drawing public attention to process – can appeal. 10 “Parliamentarians Protect Parliamentarians”: an initia- tive to protect Members and human rights defenders On the initiative of the Com- threatened parliamentarians mittee on Human Rights and and human rights defenders Humanitarian Aid, the Ger- receiving concrete help. The man Bundestag has set up decision on the right mix of the “Parliamentarians Protect “advocacy behind the scenes” Parliamentarians” programme. and public pressure must be It supports selected Members taken on a case-by-case basis. of Parliament and human Sometimes, those affected are rights defenders throughout helped by a discussion with the world who are unable to government representatives, speak out freely due to their while in other cases Mem- advocacy of human rights, bers of the Bundestag write and who are persecuted, letters to people in detention, detained or threatened with observe court proceedings or death. visit prisoners. As part of the programme, In past electoral terms, Members of the Bundestag steps taken as part of the can “adopt” a human rights programme have resulted in defender or parliamentarian.

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