In many countries, MPs face significant risks for simply doing their jobs. In some extreme cases, MPs who are critical of the governing powers are incarcerated, tortured or even murdered. Those responsible for such acts rarely face any legal consequences.
To address this, in response to calls from the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CHRP) to protect parliamentarians worldwide, the German Bundestag launched the Parliamentarians Protect Parliamentarians programme in 2003, a pioneering and cross-party initiative to support threatened MPs and human rights defenders around the world.
The programme’s core objective is to encourage German parliamentarians to help their endangered fellow MPs from other countries, in a great example of parliamentary solidarity.
Currently, some 90 members of the German Bundestag from various parliamentary groups support approximately 200 politicians and human rights activists from 43 countries through this programme.
Examples of recent solidarity actions include:
- In 2017, Tanzanian opposition MP Tundu Lissu faced an assassination attempt with suspected political motives. He suffered serious injuries and sought medical treatment in exile. He recently returned to his country. In line with the IPU’s decision on the case, German MP Mr. Norbert Altenkamp informed the Tanzanian Ambassador in Berlin that his parliament and the international community continue to monitor Mr. Lissu's situation and urged the authorities to reopen the investigation to finally find and punish the perpetrators.
- Since 2018, the IPU has been monitoring the situation of several opposition MPs from Uganda, including five who were violently arrested and tortured in detention in August 2018. To date, those responsible have not been brought to justice. Three years later, one of these MPs, Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi (aka Bobi Wine) stood as a presidential candidate in the general elections of January 2021, ultimately coming second in the vote. In this context, he was put under house arrest, his phone blocked and his internet connection cut. The IPU has systematically requested a thorough investigation into the torture allegations, urging prompt accountability measures. It has also expressed concern about the repeated steps taken to prevent Bobi Wine from conveying his political message. In the context of the programme, Ms. Luise Amtsberg, a member of the Bundestag, has supported Bobi Wine via visits, social media, and raising awareness in the German Parliament and media. She also urged the German Embassy and other European representations in Uganda to maintain regular contact with Bobi Wine and monitor State action. She is hoping to foster a fresh approach to German-Ugandan cooperation, with human rights at the core.
- Regarding the situation of several MPs in Turkïye, the IPU has repeatedly expressed deep concern that many of them have faced reprisals, including prison and legal proceedings, for exercising their political rights. Mr. Nils Schmid from the German Bundestag has taken up the calls of the IPU and supported Ms. Gülser Yildirim, who is one of the Turkish MPs whose cases are before the CHRP. He has served as a point of contact for Ms. Yildirim and her family. Mr. Schmid also maintains communication with Ms. Yildirim's lawyers, the German Foreign Office, the German Embassy in Turkïye, and relevant human rights organizations, to gather information on her situation. His activities have raised public awareness and helped reinforce the message to the Turkish authorities that their actions are being closely monitored by the international community.
If your parliament is interested in receiving the IPU's support to establish a similar initiative and actively contribute to protecting MPs at risk, please contact [email protected].
