Coalition Takes Part in Interior Ministry Roundtable on Strengthening Germany’s Response to Transnational Repression
On 6 November 2025, the Coalition Against Transnational Repression in Germany participated in a closed‑door roundtable convened by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, with the participation of the Federal Foreign Office and several civil‑society organisations. The discussion focused on transnational repression as an escalating global threat requiring a coordinated, institutional, and rights‑based response.
The Coalition was represented at the meeting by:
- Tibet Initiative Deutschland e.V.
- Law and Democracy Support Foundation e.V.
- Civil Society Forum e.V.
- Reporter ohne Grenzen e.V.
- Journalisten und Anwälte für Meinungsfreiheit (JAM) e.V.
- Mikroskop Media
During the meeting, Coalition representatives contributed insights from ongoing casework and policy research, highlighting persistent structural gaps affecting individuals targeted by foreign state actors. These included the absence of trusted and accessible reporting channels, unclear delineation of protection responsibilities across federal and local authorities, and inconsistent institutional responses to reported incidents.
Drawing on the Coalition’s April 2025 policy paper “Tackling Transnational Repression in Germany,” the Coalition underscored the need for a comprehensive federal framework that links prevention, protection, and accountability. Key recommendations presented included:
- Establishing clear and identifiable points of contact for affected individuals.
- Improving inter‑agency coordination across federal and state levels.
- Developing systematic documentation and early‑warning mechanisms.
- Creating protection pathways that prioritise human rights and the lived experiences of impacted communities.
The Coalition reiterated that transnational repression must be understood fundamentally as a human rights issue, not solely a security matter. It stressed that meaningful and ongoing consultation with civil society is essential for developing any governmental guidance or institutional framework addressing this phenomenon.
The Coalition welcomes the Ministry’s openness to sustained engagement and looks forward to further contributing to efforts aimed at building a coherent, people‑centered and rights‑based national approach to addressing transnational repression in Germany.
