Germany Criticized on Human Rights Issues at the UN Council

UN Council notes Racism, discrimination against foreigners, increased activities of neo-Nazis

By Lalith Ganhewa in Berlin for Sri Lanka Guardian

(February 03, Berlin, Sri Lanka Guardian) On Monday the representatives of the German Government had to listen to harsh criticism at United Nations over the human rights situation in Germany. The UN Human Rights Council, the supreme global forum against oppression, torture and violence, invited the Germans for the first time to Geneva, like all other members to make a review.

The Federal Government was represented by State secretary of the foreign ministry Mr. Gernot Erler (SPD) and the parliamentary State Secretary of the Interior Ministry Mr. Peter Altmaier (CDU).

At the beginning of the hearing Mr. Erle admitted "there are difficulties in Germany" to the Council.

He cited deficiencies in the integration of foreigners, in the equal rights of men and women and right-wing extremist crimes. In the follow up three hour debate, representatives of 46 Member States expressed their views on Human Rights in Germany.

Many countries were content with this admission: Iran, Russia, Egypt, Pakistan, India and Cuba went on nailing Germany. The representative of the Iranian government spoke of a "dramatic increase" in racial violence in Germany, the envoys of Cuba denounced the racial discrimination against minorities like Roma and Sinti, and Moscow's UN ambassador complained about great disadvantages the immigrants from countries of the ex - USSR have to face. A western observer said "It was clear that these issues would come, especially the countries that do not have a white vest in terms of human rights, fulminate at the loudest." But he also acknowledged being a teacher to other countries on human rights one should also clean up its own garden first.

Some countries called on Germany to increas vigilance with regard to xenophobia. Erler pointed at the hearing that two years ago the extreme-right NPD party had more than 20000 members. Today there are only 7200.

There was also much talk about the German past. "Germany is a country with a very difficult history," said Erler. The crimes of the Nazis have had a clear consequence in the Federal Republic with a determination "Never again." The Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Peter Altmaier, agreed and said about the Holocaust denial: "That we can not and will not allow."

Germany also had to listen to critical words from friendly European countries too: Holland lamented cases of "excessive violence" of some German law enforcement authorities, Liechtenstein wanted to know more about the fate of over 5000 street children in the Federal Republic and Denmark accused assaults against homosexuals.

Human rights organizations and experts criticized the German report. Amnesty International accused Berlin, that the report to the Human Rights Council has been "fudged". The Director of the German Institute for Human Rights, Heiner Bielefeldt, said: "There is a tendency to German complacency on the issue of human rights."

Among other issues they accused the government in the areas of migration, refugees, gender and poverty and the human rights situation of Germany. Speaking on German Radio, the UN expert from Amnesty International, Silke Voss-Kyek said "this report has nothing to do with reality." The German Green Party human-rights policy spokesman Volker Beck, criticized the Report at the fringes of the meeting in Geneva saying"too smooth" and rename "is not sufficient enough to existing deficits."

The German representative admitted at the hearing, that the integration of migrants is still insufficient. They referred to "national action plans" with the aim to resolve these problems. And the German government is improving equal opportunities for men and women.

The hearing of Germany kicks off this year's country inspection procedure of the Panel, which goes on until 13 February.

Founded in 2006, the Human Rights Council will evaluate the situation of human rights in all UN Member States, a critical examination. Each state will be reviewed every four years. Before the council gives his conclusions on a country, the UN Human Rights Council examines the respective country report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) and a summary of comments from non-governmental organizations. The report on Germany will be adopted on Wednesday.

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-Sri Lanka Guardian