Topics
Globalization has increased the interconnectedness of peoples and countries — the impact of political decisions and economic and social developments is increasingly felt in faraway lands. Efforts to cooperate rather than confront are thus important.
Only the protection of human rights can guarantee stability and peace. It is also a prerequisite for successful sustainable development. As well as working in the political arena to promote universal respect for human rights, the Federal Government provides funding for projects and organizations committed to improving the human rights situation in various countries.
Read more: Human rights policy
One of the Federal Foreign Office’s most important tasks is to bring help quickly to people who are in desperate need due to natural disaster, armed conflict or civil unrest. In 2006, the Federal Foreign Office provided more than 77 million euro for 303 projects in the field of humanitarian aid and mine clearance.
Read more: Humanitarian aid
Given the number of trouble spots around the globe, the deterioration of state control in some parts of the world, increasing mobility and the constant improvement of communications technologies, the globalization of terrorism is becoming a real danger. As a global problem, terrorism must be met with an international response. Combating international organized crime (OC) isanother major new challenge facing the international community.
Read more: Terrorism and international organized crime
Energy and climate issues are closely interconnected, but the challenges they pose are very different. The increasing use of fossil fuels accelerates climate change, with grave consequences for many parts of the world. Despite increasing competition for resources and rising commodity prices, governments must secure the energy supplies needed to keep their economies running. The German Government believes the best way to meet these challenges is by international cooperation.
Read more: Cooperation on energy security and climate protection
Destruction of the environment does not stop at national borders. Greenhouse gases, the hole in the ozone layer, forest fires in the Far East, Southern Europe and North America, the desiccation of the Aral Sea, desertification in Africa and rising sea-levels all have an impact far beyond the borders of any one country. Environmental protection has become one of the international community’s most important tasks.
Read more: Environmental protection
The process of globalisation, the ever increasing interlinking of individual states and regions of the world, in the last decades had decisive political repercussions as well as its obvious economic and social impact. For a better understanding of this process and to search synergy in different actors’ efforts to shape and react to globalisation the Federal Foreign Office in 1999 has created the conference series Forum Global Issues for dialogue with civil society and other actors.
Read more: Forum Global Issues – Dialogue between Government and Civil Society
