German human rights policy is geared to protecting people’s rights and basic freedoms worldwide and creating an environment in which suppression, despotism and exploitation have no chance. Germany is a signatory to all major EU and UN human rights conventions and uses its international relations to encourage and increase respect for human rights.
Germany’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law is hallmarked by dialogue and cooperation at various levels – with governments, NGOs and media around the world. For example with China: since 2003, the German-Chinese human rights dialogue has offered the chance of an intensive exchange on all important issues relating to the protection of human rights and thus supplements the rule of law dialogue that is also ongoing between the two countries. In Iraq, Germany works with partners to promote human rights by training ministry and government agency staff, offering training programmes for journalists and supporting the construction of two treatment centres for torture victims. The human rights dialogue established with Central Asian countries as part of the European Union’s Central Asia strategy also stems from a German initiative during Germany’s EU Council presidency in the first half of 2007.
Ms. Turmann, the DED is engaged in promoting democracy in Ghana. Who do you cooperate with here?
One important group of civil society representatives are the chiefs, the heads of village communities. They rank among the country’s traditional authorities and play a significant role in society and politics. At local level, in particular, they are an important contact for villagers in Ghana. The traditional authorities are the best informed about local needs, they are aware of the community’s problems and they are confided in and trusted more than representatives of the state administration. That makes them an important mediator between civil society and the Ghanaian government – for example where more community input is needed to tailor development plans to local needs or where mediation is required to settle conflicts.
The DED supports the Ghanaian government’s efforts to involve traditional authorities more deeply as mediators in political decision-making processes and to develop a greater understanding between state and civil society. What does that mean in concrete terms?
We endeavour to make chiefs more aware and more appreciative of the role they play as development advisers, to deepen their knowledge of state institutions and the responsibilities of local administrations, to convey to them how they can engage with the system and to teach them more about communication and conflict management. On the other hand, we also work with local state officials such as mayors to show them what they can do to involve traditional authorities more effectively as contacts and advisers for development policy decisions. We arrange seminars and dialogue forums on the subject to get the two sides to talk and help eliminate prejudice.
What is the response to the DED’s work?
The demand is immense – from local government officials and traditional authorities alike. In areas where the DED is active, chiefs are knowledgeable about Ghana’s system of government, sensitized to the importance of their role as mediators, able to mobilize the local community and have access to government decision makers. It needs to be appreciated that the democratization process advances in many small steps. It can often be helpful, however, if an outsider steps in as a neutral observer and adviser and tries to get the various parties to sit down together at a table. If our events result in chiefs, as part of civil society, and representatives of government institutions getting together, agreeing rules for future joint development planning, cooperating more effectively and avoiding conflicts, our work can be deemed a success.
Annette Turmann
has worked for the German Development Service (DED) since 2003. She is the DED’s coordinator in Ghana.
