Children’s rights organization Terre des Hommes has voiced criticism of the German government’s disproportionate focus on military spending in the context of defense expenditures and NATO targets.
Joshua Hofert, spokesperson for Terre des Hommes, told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that those striving for global security and a rules-based international order “cannot solely focus on armaments but must also invest in humanitarian tasks”. He stated that while the German government had pledged to do so, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his cabinet were falling short of this commitment.
Drawing comparisons to nations like the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom, which have recently significantly reduced their aid budgets citing concerns about disincentives and effectiveness, Hofert cautioned Germany against repeating these mistakes. He highlighted that states had previously committed to eradicating poverty and hunger and combating inequality by 2030, but these efforts are now waning.
Hofert emphasized the dire situation facing children, with 500 million living in conflict and crisis zones and 138 million children worldwide engaged in labor, 54 million of whom are working in hazardous conditions. He argued that the withdrawal of nations previously committed to supporting less developed countries increases Germany’s responsibility. “This will have consequences for the well-being of children around the world” Hofert urged the government to reconsider its planned cuts.
Acknowledging the evolving landscape of international aid, Hofert also offered self-criticism. He noted a growing trend of states resisting Western dominance and distancing themselves from the global north. While recognizing that not all aid efforts have been successful, he asserted that modern organizations have learned from past mistakes. “I believe the traditional image of Western development aid is outdated” Hofert concluded.