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Memorandum
Germany: Commissioner calls for protection of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
Commissioner O’Flaherty released a memorandum today addressing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as efforts to combat racism and discrimination, with a focus on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. This follows his visit to Germany in October 2025. While acknowledging the...
Country visit
Human Rights Commissioner O’Flaherty’s visit to Germany: focus on migration, freedoms of assembly and expression, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to Germany from 13 – 17 October 2025, during which he focused on issues related to migration and asylum and on freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in the context of protests in relation to Gaza. He...
Letter
The Commissioner asks the German authorities to uphold freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the context of the conflict in Gaza
In a letter addressed to the Federal Minister of the Interior of Germany published today, Commissioner O’Flaherty raises concerns about restrictions to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly of persons protesting in the context of the conflict in Gaza, as well as about reports of...
Country visit report
Germany: Follow through with human rights commitments and improve access to social rights
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report following her visit to Germany from 27 November to 1 December 2023, with recommendations regarding the available structures and legal frameworks to protect human rights, and on access to social rights, in...
Country visit
Germany: address growing poverty and inequality by better protecting social rights and reinforce general frameworks for human rights protection
“While Germany has a well-developed welfare system, persistent challenges in accessing social rights have resulted in disquieting levels of poverty, social inequality and homelessness, affecting a growing part of the population. Rapid action must be taken to better protect the right to an...
Letter
Germany should pursue efforts to fully ensure children’s rights
In a letter addressed to Christine Lambrecht, the Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection and Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of Germany, made public today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, urges the German...
Letter
Commissioner urges German Parliament to increase the human rights safeguards of the bill for improving the implementation of expulsion of migrants
Today the Commissioner published a letter she addressed to the Chairwoman of the Committee on Internal Affairs and Community of the Parliament of Germany, Andrea Lindholz, in which she raises concerns about some aspects of the bill that aims at facilitating removals of people obliged to leave the...
Country visit report
Germany's efforts to protect refugees are remarkable. Now it has to boost integration and improve fight against racism
“Germany’s considerable efforts in helping asylum-seekers and refugees, in particular Syrians, is commendable and the support of the vast majority of the population is heartening. However, progress is needed to improve reception conditions, speed up fair asylum procedures and accelerate refugee...
Visit to Germany
Germany should advance protection of asylum seekers and improve response to racism and extremism
“Germany has done a lot in the field of asylum in recent years, including launching three humanitarian admission programmes for Syrian refugees (concerning 20 000 individuals) and registering more than 200 000 asylum applications in 2014. However, with an estimate of 400 000 asylum applications...
Letter to the German Federal Minister of the Interior
Letter from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights to Dr Thomas De Maizière, German Federal Minister of the Interior CommDH(2010)52 / 09 December 2010
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1 On 16 March 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision by which the Russian Federation ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe, after 26 years of membership.