Standing firm against violations of international law and human rights abuses

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in violation of international law has once again brought home to us the importance of international criminal law. The ongoing development of German legislation in this field is essential. With legislation that has now been adopted by the Bundestag, we are strengthening the rights of victims of crimes against international law by enabling them to bring private accessory prosecutions. Victims will in certain cases also have the right to free legal counsel and to psychosocial assistance throughout court proceedings. At the same time, we are continuing to develop Germany’s substantive criminal law in this area, for example regarding sexualised violence and forced disappearance offences. The new legislation is also a clear statement that criminals such as Assad’s state-sanctioned torturers can be brought to justice in Germany for their crimes under international law. And that they cannot invoke general functional immunity, regardless of their rank or status.

With the meeting of the G7 Justice Ministers in Berlin at the end of 2022, we created a new format for cooperation in this area, which the Japanese G7 presidency continued in Tokyo in 2023 and the Italian presidency in Venice in 2024. Our message is clear: the world of law and justice will not yield to the barbarity of lawlessness.