REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

458
Remembrance in Time
The Grundgesetz/ German Basic Law put the concept of human rights in the center and
based all legal norms on it. In contrast the understanding of human rights in the socialistic
meaning as an element to safeguard the socialistic body of thought and not the basis of
the law lead to entirely different rights.
The concrete comparison discloses miscellaneous.
Provisions of the same wording experience divergent interpretation, similar norms
contain different sets of rules or completely different scopes or protection. Even the
concept of the role of equal rights and the arrangement in the Constitution is tied to the
ideological context.
So the question arises whether or not human rights had been achieved in both states.
This is not an easy question.
After the reunification the Marxism-Leninism vanished and with it the Marxist-Leninist
concept of human rights. And whilst the van of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
(SED) at its 40 th anniversary still claimed to have achieved human rights within the
territory of the GDR [23], Erich Honecker declared after the breakdown of the GRD with
regard to the human rights understanding of the Marxism-Leninism that “the concept had
been too weak in theory and practice”. [24]
But, what about human rights in the Federal Republic of Germany? The Grundgesetz
still exists. And, it is also true that violations of human rights still occur. For example
men and women are still not completely equal in reality. That means even if the wording
promises human rights the people and the state are responsible for their achievement.
References
1. Sepúlveda, M., van Banning, T.: Human Rights Reference Handbook. University for
Peace, Costa Rica, 2004, p. 3, l. 1.
2. Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland vom 23. Mai 1949, BGBl. 1949, S.
1, as amended on 21.12.1983, BGBl. 1983 I, S. 1481.
3. Verfassung der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik vom 06. April 1968, GBl 1968
I, S. 199, as amended by the Gesetz zur Änderung der Verfassung der Deutschen
Demokratischen Republik of 07. Oktober 1974, GBl. 1974 I, Nr. 47, S. 432.
4. Institut für Theorie des Staates und des Rechts der Akademie der Wissenschaft der
DDR (ed.): Marxistisch-leninistische Staats- und Rechtstheorie. Staatsverlag der
DDR, Berlin (Ost), 1975.
5. Haney, G.: Grundlagen der Theorie des sozialistischen Staates und Rechts, Institut
des Staates und des Rechts, Karl-Marx-Universität, Leipzig, 3. ed., 1967.
6. Ulbrich, B.: Die Deutsche Akademie für Staats- und Rechtswissenschaft „Walter
Ulbricht“ 1948-1971, Lang, Frankfurt am Main, 1997, p. 118f.
7. Brunner, G: Einführung in das Recht der DDR, C. H. Beck, München, 1979, p. 86.
8. Institut für Theorie des Staates und des Rechts der Akademie der Wissenschaft der
DDR (ed.): Marxistisch-leninistische allgemeine Theorie des Staates und des Rechts,
Staatsverlag der DDR, 1975, p. 352.
9. BVerfG, 2 BvE 2/08 vom 30. Juni 2009, para. 217.
10. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung: Die Grundrechte in beiden deutschen Staaten, Neue
Gesellschaft GmbH, 5. ed., Bonn, 1985, p.14f.
11. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung: Die Grundrechte in beiden deutschen Staaten, Neue
Gesellschaft GmbH, 5. ed., Bonn, 1985, p.15.