Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rule of Law as a Basis for Effective Human Rights Protection: The German Perspective

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Universalism of Human Rights

Part of the book series: Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice ((IUSGENT,volume 16))

  • 2449 Accesses

Abstract

Human rights can be understood as a multi-faceted concept which needs a strong legal basis, namely, a set of legal guarantees in human rights treaties and an increasing number of monitoring mechanisms. Following the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of December 10, 1948, various multi-lateral treaties for the protection of human rights have been negotiated and entered into force. They are not restricted to civil and political rights and take a much broader approach. All have monitoring mechanisms acting on a legal basis. The important European system with its strong, judicial monitoring mechanism is providing an effective human rights protection focused on civil and political rights. In the Görgülü case (2004), the German Federal Constitutional Court underlined the importance of the European Court’s judgments and of the ECHR as a legally binding instrument for the protection of human rights.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alston, P. (ed.). 1992. The United Nations and human rights, A critical appraisal. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, M. 2008. Duties beyond border. In Foreign policy: Theories, actors, cases, ed. S. Smith, A. Hadfield, and T. Dunne, 189–203. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charter of the United Nations

    Google Scholar 

  • Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

    Google Scholar 

  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

    Google Scholar 

  • Convention on the Rights of the Child

    Google Scholar 

  • Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

    Google Scholar 

  • [European] Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

    Google Scholar 

  • Dreier, H. 2004–2008. Grundgesetz Kommentar. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grabenwarter, C. 2009. Europäische Menschenrechtskonvention, Ein Studienbuch. München: Beck.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grote, R., and T. Marauhn (eds.). 2006. EMRK/GG, Konkordanzkommentar zum europäischen und deutschen Grundrechtsschutz. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, R. 2010. Problems and process: International law and how we use it. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

    Google Scholar 

  • International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

    Google Scholar 

  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

    Google Scholar 

  • International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, E. 1999. Universeller Menschenrechtsschutz: Realität oder Utopie? EuGRZ 26/5-6, 109–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahler, C., and N. Weiß. 2004. Europäische Menschenrechtskonvention und nationales Recht: Deutschland – eine Spurensuche – Österreich – ein Königsweg? In Menschenrechtsschutz im Spiegel von Wissenschaft und Praxis, ed. C. Mahler and N. Weiß, 147–213. Berlin: Berliner Wissenschaftsverlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nooke, G. (ed.). 2008. Gelten Menschenrechte universal? Begründungen und Infragestellungen. Freiburg im Breisgau/Basel/Wien: Herder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowak, M. 2003. Introduction to the international human rights regime. Leiden: Nijhoff.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, H.J., P. Alston, and R. Goodman (eds.). 2007. International human rights in context. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    Google Scholar 

  • Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiß, N. 2003. The impact of the European convention on human rights on German jurisprudence. In Judicial comparativism in human rights cases, ed. E. Örücü, 49–61. London: UKNCCL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiß, N. 2010. Human rights. In A concise encyclopedia of the United Nations, ed. H. Volger, 255–263. Leiden/Boston: Matrinus Nijhoff.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Rights Centre of the University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    Norman Weiß

Authors
  1. Norman Weiß
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Norman Weiß .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Faculty of Law, University of Regensburg, Universitätstraße 31, Regensburg, 93053, Germany

    Rainer Arnold

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Weiß, N. (2013). Rule of Law as a Basis for Effective Human Rights Protection: The German Perspective. In: Arnold, R. (eds) The Universalism of Human Rights. Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice, vol 16. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4510-0_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation