Coalition Participated in Civil Society Exchange with UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor

On 2 April 2025, the Coalition Against Transnational Repression in Germany took part in a civil society exchange with Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, during her visit to Berlin. The meeting, hosted by Amnesty International at its Berlin office, brought together a small group of organisations and individuals directly affected by transnational repression.

During the exchange, participants shared first‑hand experiences of surveillance, intimidation, digital attacks, and pressure on family members abroad. Members of the Coalition outlined the growing patterns of transnational repression in Germany, the gaps in existing protection mechanisms, and the urgent need for coordinated political responses to safeguard human rights defenders, journalists, students, and exiled activists.

The discussion provided an important opportunity to inform the UN mandate about the situation in Germany, including the structural challenges faced by individuals targeted by foreign governments. Representatives of the Coalition emphasised the need for stronger institutional awareness, improved support services, and clear accountability pathways for cases of transnational repression.