(Bonn, 12.12.2025) On October 9, 2025, the President of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), Thomas Schirrmacher, and the ISHR Secretary General, Matthias Böhning, met with new Chairwoman of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the Deutsche Bundestag, the German Federal Parliament, Mechthild Heil (MP, CDU).
On her website, Heil wrote beside the attached photo:
“Last week, I met with Prof. Thomas Schirrmacher, President of the International Council of the International Society for Human Rights, and Matthias K. Böhning, Secretary General of the ISHR. The ISHR is an international, independent human rights organization with chapters in over 40 countries. It campaigns worldwide for the observance of human rights, freedom of expression, and the protection of persecuted people. It is particularly committed to helping people who are persecuted because of their faith, political convictions, or their commitment to freedom and justice. During the meeting, the main areas of work and current projects of ISHR were presented. I am grateful for the open exchange and look forward to further cooperation.”
“Mechthild Heil is a German politician from the CDU and an architect. She has been a member of the German Bundestag since 2009 and was the consumer protection officer for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group from 2013 to 2017. From 2018 to 2021, Heil was chair of the Committee on Building, Housing, Urban Development and Local Government. Since 2025, she has been chair of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid. Since September 2024, she has been deputy state chair of the CDU Rhineland-Palatinate.” (Source: German Wikipedia)
Since May 2025, following the 2025 German federal election earlier in the year and the reconstitution of parliamentary committees, Heil has served as the Chairwoman of the Bundestag’s Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid. This committee is responsible for overseeing Germany’s policies on international human rights promotion, humanitarian assistance in crisis zones, and monitoring global violations of civil liberties. As chair, she leads a cross-party group of parliamentarians in shaping legislation, conducting inquiries, and coordinating with international bodies on issues like refugee aid, sanctions against authoritarian regimes, and support for civil society activists worldwide. This role positions her at the forefront of Germany’s foreign policy on human rights, influencing funding, diplomatic engagements, and parliamentary resolutions.
The ISHR leadership’s visit to Heil in her new role as committee chair is strategically vital for several reasons: (1) Strengthening institutional ties: Germany, as a major EU funder of human rights initiatives—allocating over €1 billion annually via its development ministry—, plays a pivotal role in global advocacy. The committee Heil chairs directly influences budget approvals, policy recommendations, and Bundestag resolutions on human rights. A personal connection allows ISHR to brief Heil on urgent cases—e.g., Uyghur detentions in China or crackdowns in Belarus—, ensuring ISHR’s expertise informs German parliamentary action. This builds on ISHR’s historical collaboration with German institutions, including past consultations with Bundestag committees. (2) Amplifying advocacy in the new mandate: Heil’s appointment in 2025 coincides with heightened global challenges, such as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and rising authoritarianism. As a CDU conservative with a track record of cross-party cooperation, she represents a pragmatic voice. ISHR’s visit enables direct input into her committee’s agenda, also—among other factors—potentially unlocking resources for ISHR’s field operations or joint campaigns. (3) Symbolic and practical impact: High-level visits always signal mutual commitment, enhancing ISHR’s credibility with policymakers while giving Heil early insights into civil society priorities. Her own post—quoted above—emphasizes the relevance to her. This is especially important amid domestic debates in Germany on migration and foreign aid cuts.
The two representatives of the ISHR have longstanding relations with the Human Rights Committee of the German Bundestag. Matthias Böhning was appointed by this committee to the Board of Trustees of the German Institute for Human Rights. Between 1999 and 2024, Thomas Schirrmacher testified many times as an expert in this committee on issues of religious freedom, ethnic minorities, and the human rights situation in countries like Turkey and India.
Downloads and Links
- Photo: Thomas Schirracher, Mechthild Heil, Matthias Böhning © Mechthild Heil
- Wikipedia entry on Mechthild Heil: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechthild_Heil
- Mechthild Heil on the meeting on her website: https://mechthild-heil.de/?p=8929
- Website of the International Society for Human Rights: https://ishr.org
