In an era of populism and authoritarian regimes worldwide, fundamental rights are coming under increasing pressure even in Germany, a country governed by the rule of law.
The 240-page-long "2026 Fundamental Rights Report," presented in Karlsruheon Thursday, says fundamental rights are threatened, for example, when efforts to combat climate change wane, when affordable housing becomes scarce and when technical standards on social media violate informal self-determination. But the greatest danger comes when security concerns dominate domestic policy, and lead to a military buildup.
Fundamental rights are the basic rights to freedom and equality guaranteed by law to every person. In Germany, they are enshrined in the first 19 articles of the constitution, the Basic Law, and protect individuals from state overreach.
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The annual report has been published since 1997, sponsored by human rights organizations including Pro Asyl, the Humanist Union and the League for Human Rights. And this year, the organizers found a well-known advocate: former Federal Justice Minister Herta Däubler-Gmelin, who served from 1998 to 2002 under then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).
