Response of Germany to the Joint Communication of Special Rapporteurs of the UN OHCHR on the Joint Declaration
Response of Germany of 1 June 2023 to the Joint Communication of Special Rapporteurs of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of 23 February 2023 on the alleged lack of meaningful participation of the OvaHerero and Nama in the negotiations leading to the initialling of the Joint Declaration of 15 May 2021 by Germany and Namibia.
Ref.: Pol-10 552.00 NAM
Note No.: 159/2023
“(…)
The Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Office of the United Nations and to the other International Organisations in Geneva avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights the assurance of its highest consideration.
Addressing the history of German colonialism in what was German South West Africa between 1884 and 1919, and in particular the crimes committed against the Herero, Nama and others during the colonial war from 1904 to 1908, is of central importance to bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Namibia. In the war waged by German colonial troops in the colony from 1904 to 1908, atrocities were committed which have to be called genocide. The German Government acknowledges its historical, moral and political responsibility for these crimes.
(…)”
- Document of the response of Germany to the Joint Communication of Special Rapporteurs of OHCHR as PDF. Source: Website of the United Nations (checked in December 2023)
- Also see the Joint Communication of the Special Rapporteurs of the OHCHR of 23 February 2023 and the response of Namibia of 30 May 2023.