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FOREIGN POLICY
obligations, and answer critical questions.
European Council can resort directly to the
Germany underwent this procedure in 2009
ECtHR with complaints concerning a viola-
and 2013.
tion of rights protected by the European
Human Rights Convention. Germany em-
Germany is one of the most active coun-
phatically advocates that all member states
tries on the European Council, which has 47
of the European Council accept and imple-
member states and champions the protec-
ment the decisions of the ECtHR, as is in-
tion and promotion of human rights, the
cumbent upon them. The International
rule of law, and democracy throughout Eu-
Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the
rope. With landmark conventions, in particu-
Netherlands, is responsible for the prosecu-
lar the European Human Rights Convention,
tion under international criminal law of
the European Council plays a strong role in
serious international crimes such as war
establishing a common European judicial
crimes, crimes against humanity, and geno-
area and monitors adherence to binding
cide. Germany is in favour of universal rec-
common standards and values on the Euro-
ognition of the ECtHR.
pean continent.
The Federal Government Commissioner for
International human rights
Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid,
policy tools
Christoph Strässer, is based in the Federal
Foreign Office. He observes international de-
The European Court of Human Rights
velopments, coordinates human rights activ-
(ECtHR) in Strasbourg, France is one of the
ities with other state bodies, and advises the
European Council’s main institutions for
Federal Foreign Minister. The German par-
enforcing human rights in Europe. Each and
liament, the Bundestag, has accompanied
every citizen of the 47 member states of the
and monitored German human rights policy
Cooperation and development
Germany is not only one of the
important and major donor
countries in the field of government development cooperation;
it is also an important donor
for, and actively helps shape
humanitarian aid.
Spending on government development cooperation in USD billion
USA
32.73
Great Britain
19.39
Germany
16.25
France
10.37
Japan
9.19
Source: OECD / DAC
DIAGRAM