75 Jahre UN-Menschenrechte

Am 1. Dezember 2023 jährte sich zum 75. Mal die Deklaration der Menschenrechte.

Durch Beschluss der UN-Mitgliedsstaaten wurden 1948 dreißig Artikel zum Schutz der Menschen in der Resolution 217 A (III) der Generalversammlung der Vereinten Nationen festgeschrieben. 

Aus diesem Anlass haben die Vereinten Nationen (UN) einen 75-tägigen Countdown gestartet und jeden Tag eine Persönlichkeit zu Menschenrechtsfragen weltweit interviewt.

Am 31. Oktober 2023, dem 40. Tag des Countdowns, führte unsere Oberbürgermeisterin das Gespräch mit der UN. Das vollständige Interview ist nachfolgend im Originalwortlaut auf Englisch wiedergegeben:

UN-Introduction:

In 2021, Cologne, Germany decided to consistently come to terms with its colonial past as part of a project to encourage broad social participation. Cologne, a city of around 1 million, has a community that consists of 40 percent migrants including those from former German colonies. The city created an expert committee of 12 from across the diasporic-migrant communities in the city to present to the Mayor recommendations on a variety of areas, including health care, cultural remembrance and working with museums to either repatriate or better enhance the legacy of objects taken from former colonies. As part of celebrating "World Cities Day", we spoke with Cologne’s Lord Mayor Henriette Reker,  who explained why coming to terms with its colonial past is the way forward for the city’s future.  

Reker:

The atrocities which have been committed by the German Nazi regime during World War II have shown the world how fragile and endangered the idea of an untouchable human dignity is and that we have to stand up for this idea every single day. Therefore, first of all, Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the foundation of our identity as a city. At the same time, it is a guideline for the daily work of our administration. The first and foremost task of a municipality is to create a space for all its inhabitants where they can live in freedom and safety. Thus, the statement of Article 1 is a permanent task, a reminder and an incentive to become even better in protecting the dignity of all human beings in our city and to create an environment worth living for them.

United Nations: You have chosen to reopen old, and still sore, wounds through a project that aims to memorialize your city’s colonial past. What does the project entail, what you hope to achieve, and why did you choose to initiate it now?

Reker:

Cologne was the colonial metropolis of the West in the German Imperial period. The part played by the people of Cologne and the city of Cologne in the search for and the justifications for the acquisition of the German colonies was considerable. For a long time this was not in the historical consciousness. With the process that has now been set up, we want to achieve recognition of this time. In addition, it is important for us to show that colonialism still has an impact on our coexistence today. During this time, many racist and discriminatory stereotypes were created, which are still carried forward today. Therefore, the process that Cologne has started is not limited to the visible colonial heritage, but also refers to the invisible, which exists until today and which partly exists unquestioned. For this purpose, I have convened a committee of experts to advise me on how to deal with the colonial heritage. It is intended to shed more light on the effects of the colonial racialization and discrimination of people on today's areas of life, for example in the areas of health and education. At the end, a catalogue of measures will be presented to politicians for implementation. The recommendations for action formulated here will help the city's administration and politicians to identify and combat structures that have evolved over time and that disadvantage and exclude groups of people. At the same time, the people of Cologne are invited to follow the process and exchange their views through public events and panel discussions. 

United Nations: How has this project been received by your constituents? Are some finding it difficult to confront their city’s past? 

Reker:

People from the communities of African descent have been pleased that the city has decided to come to terms with its colonial heritage. An important component of the project is the involvement of people of African origin and those who have been affected by colonialism and discrimination. It is not easy to bring such a complex topic to the attention of the city's public, and there is and has been resistance. The question often arises whether we as a city do not have other issues to deal with. But here I say very clearly that for me the commitment against racism and discrimination in today's time is more important than ever. Only a city in which everyone feels comfortable and safe, in which all people are equally recognized, is well positioned for the future and can survive. I also see the project as part of preserving social peace in the city. At the same time, it is not easy for many people to reinterpret the history and stories they have learned or to look at them from a different perspective.

United Nations: Do you see memorialization projects as a way for countries to reckon with their past or, considering the changing demographics of many European countries today, for people to educate themselves, learn from one another and act against the legacies of colonialism?

Reker:

Memorialization projects help people to come to terms with their own history. However, it is important that all people are involved in this process. That's why I also think it's important to have a broad public debate, which we also initiate in the process. Now it is possible to debate different perspectives. Whenever the committee recommends a decision, it is discussed publicly in the press, among other places. Experience has shown that issues that are more visible, such as renaming streets or dealing with statues, receive more attention. The changing demographics in Europe certainly also play a major role here, because people from former colonies, for example, ask why colonial criminals are still standing on their pedestals and why local history has not yet been dealt with. The increasing globalization intensifies this even more, because the exchange between people increases worldwide. But young people in Cologne also urge us to look at the entire history of the 20th century and to question it, especially with regard to the consequences for living together today.