Representatives from various social work institutions as well as German law enforcement authorities gathered on 21 March 2025 at the International Nuremberg Principles Academy. The workshop, hosted by the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, focused on evaluating the legal framework of social work in Germany to identify necessary changes and potential solutions.
In the field of international criminal law, balancing the needs of social work with the requirements of effective law enforcement is crucial. On the one hand, information shared by refugees during conversations with social workers can be of great importance for criminal prosecution. On the other hand, social work relies on a deep relationship of trust to support refugees upon their arrival and integration into German society. The discussions provided practitioners from various disciplines with the opportunity to exchange their experiences and challenges in dealing with potentially legally relevant information.
Through its long-standing work on the project "Refugees as Potential Witnesses and Perpetrators of International Crimes", the Academy has identified a need for amendments to Section 203 (1) No. 6 of the German Criminal Code (StGB). The practical experiences of the participants offer valuable insights for further research in assessing the potential impact of a legal amendment.
The Academy sincerely thanks all participants from:
Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, Federal Prosecutor's Office, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Criminal Police Office, Caritas Association Nuremberg e.V., Women's Shelter Nuremberg, IMEDANA e.V., Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe Middle Franconia e.V., Youth Welfare Office of the City of Nuremberg, Police Headquarters of Middle Franconia, Government of Middle Franconia, Rummelsberger Diakonie e.V., Social Welfare Office of the City of Nuremberg and UNHCR Germany. (gp/aw)
