Schützenswerte

Schützenswerte is a German adjective meaning "worthy of protection" or "to be protected." In legal and policy language it is used to describe interests, goods, or values that deserve protection by law, public authority, or social norms. The phrase often appears in formulations such as schützenswerte Rechtsgüter or schützenswerte Güter, where a Rechtsgut refers to a legally protected interest.

In the context of law, schützenswerte Rechtsgüter are the goods or values that the legal system seeks to safeguard. Examples include life and physical integrity, personal freedom, privacy, property, family life, reputation, and the confidentiality of communications. The term itself is not a formal legal category, but it signals that a particular interest is worthy of protection and thus protected by criminal or civil-law rules when harmed or infringed.

Beyond criminal and civil law, schützenswerte is used in cultural heritage, environmental policy, and data protection to denote objects, sites, landscapes, or values that deserve preservation. For instance, schützenswerte Kulturgüter refers to culturally significant assets that require conservation measures, while schützenswerte Umwelt points to environmental elements that warrant safeguarding.

The concept is evaluative and context-dependent, reflecting prevailing social values, legal standards, and policy priorities. What counts as schützenswert can change with shifts in law or societal attitudes. Etymologically, it combines schützen (to protect) and Wert (value), underscoring the idea that certain things merit protection due to their importance or vulnerability. See also Schutzwürdigkeit and Rechtsgut.