Our coalition defines TNR as a strategy employed by foreign governments reaching across borders to intimidate, silence, or harm members of diaspora and exile communities in order to prevent them from exercising their human rights as defined in the German Basic Law. TNR includes physical and digital attacks, stalking, surveillance, obstructing mobility, coercing people back to their home countries, and threats from afar such as coercion by proxy. Some threats may be punishable under German criminal law, while in many cases attacks are purposefully conducted below the threshold of criminal liability. It is many times obvious that they originate from state actors, but often difficult to prove in court. Important contact points, such as law enforcement agencies, lack experience with transnational repression. This makes it difficult to acknowledge, understand, persecute and counteract TNR in Germany.

The coalition is committed to promoting a better understanding of the phenomenon, protection and support for those affected and to raising awareness among society, politics, security authorities and administration. To promote these goals, the coalition provides a space for affected people and civil society organizations to exchange ideas, carries out public relations and networking work and engages in joint advocacy work.