The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid
Human rights form the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world. Respect for human rights is enshrined in the constitution in Germany, as it is in many other countries. Consequently it is a daily consideration for state activity at all levels. The obligation to respect and protect political, civil, economic, social and cultural human rights encroaches on all policy areas.
Against this backdrop the position of Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid was established at the Federal Foreign Office in November 1998. Günter Nooke has occupied the post since 9 March 2006.
Responsibilities of the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid
Günter Nooke is the contact for issues concerning human rights policy and humanitarian aid. His tasks include following political developments in these areas and submitting proposals on German policy to the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs.
In this context the Commissioner maintains close ties with many other institutions active in the area of human rights and humanitarian aid.
These include:
- other ministries,
- the German Bundestag,
- parliamentary groups in the Bundestag,
- the Länder,
- the Humanitarian Aid Coordinating Committee,
- political and private foundations and
- non-governmental organizations.
Strengthening international human rights protection
Nooke maintains regular contact with the organs of the EU, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the UN focusing on human rights protection and humanitarian aid issues. He heads the German delegation for the sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Mobilizing civil society
Mobilizing civil society is a key aspect of the Federal Government's human rights policy. This includes involvement in the national and international debate on human rights as well as in the work of international human rights protection committees and institutions. Günter Nooke believes that one of his tasks is to act as an interface between the Government and civil society.
Human rights protection in Germany
The scope of the responsibilities of the Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid is restricted to involvement in shaping human rights policy in external relations. He is therefore not required to consider individual complaints regardinghuman rights violations in Germany, make recommendations or intervene in such cases.The Commissioner's role is not that of an ombudsperson.
Protection of individual human rights in Germany is in principle the responsibility of the courts. Under the German legal system, anyone is in principle entitled and obliged to have recourse to the courts themselves in the case of violation of their rights, as guaranteed by Article 19 paragraph 4 of the Basic Law.
Germany has a whole range of government and non-government institutions and organizations working to protect human rights, in addition to the courts. Petitions committees and commissioners for citizens' affairs provide people with a point of contact where they can lodge their complaint. Such contacts are usually referred to as ombudspersons. Such ombudspersons also exist at European level.
Humanitarian aid
Unlike longer-term development cooperation, humanitarian aid consists of immediate assistance and disaster relief, designed to save lives and alleviate human suffering in crisis situations. The willingness to perform humanitarian aid is, like human rights advocacy, an important element of German foreign policy, anchored in our constitution and its affirmation of human dignity. Suffering people are the sole priority. That is why Nooke works to ensure that the focus is always on the perspective of the victims of life-threatening crises.
Previous commissioners
- Tom Koenigs (January 2005 to February 2006),
- Claudia Roth (March 2003 to the end of 2004) and
- Gerd Poppe (1998 to 2003).
