Human rights - Report: Police data harbors risk of discrimination
The German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR) is calling for more regulations on data protection to prevent racial discrimination in German police authorities. The Institute appealed to the federal and state governments to set more precise guidelines for the implementation of the EU directive on data protection in the police. It must be ensured that people are protected from discrimination, according to the Institute's annual report, which was presented in Berlin.
In the Institute's view, the regulations should stipulate when sensitive data may be collected, stored and further processed. The measures required to protect the rights and freedoms of those affected should also be regulated. Sensitive data includes skin color and language, for example. "The federal and state governments must establish clear and binding rules for the protection of sensitive data," said DIMR Director Beate Rudolf.
According to the Institute, it has looked into the extent to which there are risks of racial discrimination in police data processing in Germany. The results are very problematic in terms of fundamental and human rights. "The protection for the processing of sensitive data by the police hardly differs from that for non-sensitive data", the report states. The legally required special protection therefore does not exist, said Rudolf.
Against preventive detention for climate activists
In addition, the Human Rights Institute criticized the fact that climate activists who are detained were taken into preventive custody. In the Institute's view, this is a violation of human rights. Although the actions are disruptive to the general public, they are peaceful. Preventive detention should not be used to prevent mere participation in sit-in blockades. In Bavaria, for example, some activists were detained for up to 30 days to prevent further actions.
Imprisonment is the "sharpest sword of the rule of law", emphasizes Beate Rudolf. "Preventive detention is imposed to prevent criminal offenses. It must be proportionate." Preventive detention for climate activists severely interferes with the freedom of assembly. According to Rudolf, this is of fundamental importance for a democracy.
Lowering the voting age
The Institute called on the German government to lower the voting age for Bundestag elections to 16. This is also stipulated in the coalition agreement of the coalition government. In addition, the voting age should be lowered uniformly in all federal states for state and local elections "to ensure equal conditions for all children and young people in Germany ".
The German Institute for Human Rights is an independent national human rights institution. It is organized as a non-profit association and is financed by the Bundestag as well as by third-party funds for individual projects. According to its own statements, the Institute is committed to ensuring that Germany respects and promotes human rights at home and abroad.
Read also:
- The EU directive on data protection in the police needs stricter implementation guidelines in Germany to prevent discrimination, as highlighted in the annual report presented by the German Institute for Human Rights in Berlin.
- Climate activists who are detained should not be subjected to preventive custody, according to the German Institute for Human Rights, as this violation of human rights may interfere with their freedom of assembly, which is crucial for democracy.
- The Human Rights Institute advocates for lowering the voting age for Bundestag elections to 16 and making it uniform across all federal states for state and local elections, to ensure equal opportunities for all children and young people in Germany.
- The Institute for Human Rights has criticized the collection, storage, and processing of sensitive data by the German police, as the current regulations are not sufficient to protect against racial discrimination.
- The preventive detention of climate activists for up to 30 days in Bavaria, to prevent further actions, is also criticized by the Human Rights Institute as a violation of human rights.
- In response to the report from the German Institute for Human Rights, DIMR Director Beate Rudolf called for clear and binding rules for the protection of sensitive data in the police, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that people are protected from discrimination.
Source: www.stern.de
