A simmering debate is erupting within Germany’s political landscape regarding the constitutional enshrinement of children’s rights, challenging the commitments outlined in the current governing coalition agreement. Jasmina Hostert, the SPD’s spokesperson for youth policy, has publicly advocated for integrating core elements of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child directly into the Grundgesetz, Germany’s Basic Law.
Hostert’s proposal, detailed in an interview with the Rheinische Post, aims to elevate the recognition of children’s perspectives and interests to the highest level of the legal system. She argues that explicitly enshrined rights would proactively shift focus towards the needs of young people, moving beyond sporadic pronouncements and fostering a more child-centered approach to policy and governance.
The initiative gains particular significance as UNICEF prepares to release its 2025 report on the state of children in Germany. Concerns are already mounting regarding the government’s stance, with Daniel Grein, Federal Managing Director of the German Child Protection Association, condemning the coalition’s failure to include children’s rights in the founding agreement. He asserts that constitutional protection would ensure the consistent consideration of children’s perspectives, irrespective of political expediency.
This sentiment is echoed by Thomas Krüger, President of the German Children’s Aid Association, who emphasizes the urgent need for a legally binding codification of children’s rights, prioritizing their well-being and guaranteeing their fundamental rights to development, protection, promotion and participation.
The call for constitutional reform has gained momentum, finding support from within the Green Party. Misbah Khan, the Green Party’s parliamentary group’s deputy chair, explicitly stated that children’s rights “unquestionably” belong within the Grundgesetz. She underlines the increased urgency of this measure given the rise in socioeconomic disparities and mounting pressures on childcare, education and healthcare systems. Critics suggest the current lack of constitutional anchoring represents a significant policy gap and underscores a potential undervaluation of the needs of the nation’s youngest citizens.