Germany: UN expert urges Government to show leadership in promoting rights-centred development globally

BERLIN – The Government of Germany should not reverse its track record of promoting human rights-based development within German borders and beyond, a UN expert said today.

“Crises also offer opportunities. The Government should show leadership in promoting inclusive, sustainable and participatory development both within and beyond Germany,” the Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Surya Deva, said in a statement at the end of an official visit to the country. “Instead of following regressive directions elsewhere, Germany should leverage its international development cooperation policy to promote all human rights, including the right to development,” the expert said.

The expert commended Germany’s efforts in providing significant official development assistance to developing countries, mobilising resources for climate finance, providing refuge to millions of people fleeing conflicts and defending multilateralism at various fora.

“Rather than seeing migrants and refugees as a liability, the Government, political parties and society should see them as an asset to sustain Germany’s economy in years to come,” said Deva. “The Government must ensure that migrants and refugees have a dignified life and enjoy all human rights in line with international law and German Basic Law. It is inhumane for the Government to deny, for years, children a right to reunite with their families,” he said.

The Government should take decisive steps to eliminate discrimination and racism, Deva said. Moreover, it should own the German colonial legacy of genocide of Ovaherero and Nama peoples in Namibia, provide reparations to their descendants and return all human remains and artefacts still displayed in Germany.

Deva expressed concern that Germany is reducing its official development assistance as well as funding for social welfare, while increasing its defence budget. “While national security is a legitimate goal, more weapons do not equal more peace or greater national security. Without offering a foolproof guarantee of peace and security, the German Government’s current approach is likely to trigger an arms race and encourage corporate profiting from a war economy,” he said.

He urged the German Government to lead by example in promoting responsible business conduct at national, regional and international levels. “The Government must avoid caving to business lobbying to dilute human rights due diligence regulations and instead should promote respect for human rights and the environment as a precondition of doing business. Only then can businesses contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

The Special Rapporteur’s detailed report on his visit and recommendations will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2026.