The law enshrines women's rights in many countries, but in most societies, equal rights for women are not still fully realised. In Germany, this is particularly evident in inequality of opportunities in the field of business and politics. Sexualised and domestic violence, and international trafficking of women, are among other critical issues. In Germany, women have already become more visible in the society compared to other countries, yet the women's movement is far from reaching its goal.
According to the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) women and men are considered to be equal in Germany. But even though a large percentage of women have the same or higher education and qualifications, they are still very few women on the executive floors in Germany.
To increase women's presence in leading positions, the law for the equal participation of women and men in executive positions (FüPoG) has been in place since May 2015. The law was expanded in August 2021 (FüPoG II). This law requires larger private and public companies to increase the proportion of women in their supervisory committees, boards of directors and senior management positions. This so-called "women's quota" was received in different ways and is still hotly debated. Since this law has been introduced, the proportion of women in these areas has risen slightly.
The situation is the same in the political sphere: here, too, women are under-represented. Although Germany had a female Chancellor (Angela Merkel) for 16 years, the share of women in the political sphere in general and especially at the local level is still lower than that of men. German parties have different approaches toward the topic of women's quota. Some parties have fixed quotas; others do not. Overall, however, the political sphere endeavours to promote women and their participation in social and economic life.
If you feel you have been discriminated against because of your gender, you can contact the Anti-Discrimination Office at 030 - 18555 1855. You can also find a counselling centre in your area on the website of the Anti-Discrimination Office.
Alternatively, you can find non-governmental anti-discrimination counselling services in your area on the website of the Anti-Discrimination Association Germany.
On average, women earn less than men in Germany. That is partly because women work in the fields with lower payments, such as social services. Besides, women often make less money for doing the same job their male counterparts do. For years, politicians have been discussing various proposals to promote pay equality, but so far not much has changed. One day in the year has been titled "Equal Pay Day" in Germany to raise awareness of the issue.
Also, the responsibility of the household, raising children and caring for the sick or old family members are still mainly on women's shoulders - these are unpaid tasks which often are not even perceived as work. The same goes for social and cultural volunteer work, which is also carried out mainly by women.
Although more and more women work, in many families in Germany, the man is still seen as the main breadwinner, who does not have to contribute to house chores.
To find a well-paid job in Germany, the first step is to learn German. In addition to the regular integration courses, the BAMF also offers special parent integration courses and integration courses for women. There you can find information about childcare and the school system as well. Inform yourself at your local migration counselling centres, Foreigners’ Registration Office („Ausländerbehörde“), Employment Agency, Jobcenter or directly contact the schools that offer integration courses.
At stark-im-beruf.de you can find migration counselling centres nearby which help the mothers to return to work. Some of these centres offer specialised assistance to female refugees.
In Germany, under certain conditions, you have the right to abort your pregnancy. An abortion can only take place during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, after a pregnancy consultation and in the presence of a doctor. After 12 weeks, termination is only possible in exceptional cases. Read more on our pregnancy chapter.
If someone wants to force you to abort your pregnancy or in case you have any questions about a possible abortion, please contact the helpline for Pregnant Women in Need: 0800 40 40 020. You can also find a counselling centre in your area at familienplanung.de.
In Germany, female genital mutilation (FGM) is prohibited. Since September 2013, FGM has been punishable with imprisonment (§226A Penal Code). Even so-called "holiday circumcisions", in which some parents take their daughter to another country for this purpose, are persecuted under German criminal law. Since 2005, FGM has been recognised as gender-based persecution and a legitimate reason for asylum, but there are not many women who have actually been granted asylum or refugee status for this reason.
Common consequences of FGM include incontinence, pain, severe bleeding, complications in intercourse and childbirth, infertility, high risk of HIV and hepatitis, blood poisoning and tetanus, shock, mental trauma and depression. Sexual satisfaction is often no longer possible after FGM. Many girls die during the mutilation or as a consequence.
If you are affected by or at the risk of genital mutilation, contact the Helpline of “Gewalt gegen Frauen” at 08000 11 60 16; multilingual assistants are available and ready to help you round the clock.
In Germany, there is the possibility to reconstruct the clitoris mutilated by FGM. The reconstructive surgery is performed by plastic surgeons. For more information, you can consult a gynaecologist. In Berlin, the "Centre for Victims of Genital Mutilation" (Desert Flower Center Waldfriede – DFC) was founded to help women and girls who have gone through FGM. In this centre, not only the physical but also the psychological effects of FGM are treated free of charge and anonymously. You do not need health insurance to refer to them.
There are types of persecution that either only threatens women or affect women to a greater extent. These types of persecution are titled as legitimate flight reason specific to women, and they include:
- specific acts of violence in the context of political, ethnic or religious persecution (e.g. abduction, enslavement and rape of Yezidi women by the IS terrorist militia in Iraq.)
- the persecution of women through, e.g. torture, stoning or forced abortion or the threat of it with the aim of enforcing prevailing norms and moral concepts.
- the state-tolerated persecution of women in the private sphere as a result of the subordinate position of women in society. These include, e.g. female genital mutilation, forced marriage or child marriage, forced prostitution, sexual violence, acid attacks and trafficking of women and girls.
If you are a victim of these types of persecution, during your asylum procedure, you can request female interviewer and interpreters for your hearing session at the BAMF. To do so, you should first seek advice at a counselling centre or talk to a lawyer. So far, only in rare cases, BAMF has recognised female refugees and asylum cases based on the flight reasons mentioned above. You can find counselling centres nearby at proasyl.de. You can read more about the asylum procedure in Germany in our chapter Asylum Procedure.
Any civil or religious marriage in which one of the two partners is under 18 is considered to be "child marriage". Since July 2017, according to the German law regarding the age of consent, one can only consent to marriage if they are 18 or older. The laws regarding child marriage abroad have also become more stringent. When at least one of the spouses is under the age of 16 at the time of marriage, their union is automatically void. The marriages registered between the age of 16 to 18 are also nullified by judicial ruling, except in certain hardship cases. In most cases, young girls are victims of child marriage.
In addition to child marriages, forced marriages are also a big problem. A marriage is considered to be a forced marriage if it takes place against the will of at least one of the two spouses-this is different from an "arranged marriage", which is mediated by the family or a marriage mediator, but with both spouses' consent. Since February 2015, forced marriages are regarded as a particularly serious case of coercion (§240 of the Criminal Code) and are severely punished in Germany.
Family reunion with a spouse living in Germany is not possible if the union is deemed to be a forced marriage. If there is a big difference in age or when the authorities suspect that two spouses hardly know each other, their case will be particularly examined.
If you are a victim of child marriage or forced marriage or at risk of it, you can contact the Lower Saxony's crisis line for forced marriage at 0800 06 67 88 8 or email zwangsheirat@kargah.de. Their staff are available Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They can provide you with support in many languages. You can also contact the helpline 08000 11 60 16 day or night – the staff can provide you support in different languages.
Prostitution has been legal in Germany since 2001, and it is considered to be a legitimate job. The amendment was intended to provide better protection for sex workers by making it a criminal offence to exploit them. Unfortunately, however, the law did not have the desired effect and exploitation and trafficking continue to be a major problem.
Human trafficking (including trafficking of Women) is a severe human rights crime. It has been titled a modern form of slavery and, despite the existence of an EU directive against trafficking, is still a lucrative business for organised crime groups.
If you as a woman are affected by trafficking, you can contact the Helpline “das Hilfetelefon” at 08000 11 60 16. Their staff are there for you day and night, and they speak many languages.
Violence against women has many faces and unfortunately takes place very often. Domestic violence is, above all, very common. According to a survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), every fourth woman in Germany has experienced domestic violence at least once in her life. To protect women, in 2002 the Protection Against Violence Act has been put in place. This law allows the police to take immediate and pre-judicial measures to protect the affected woman. For example, the perpetrator might have to leave the shared home immediately.
But how is violence against women defined? According to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, this includes any action that inflicts physical, sexual or psychological harm or distress on a woman merely because of her gender. The same applies to the threat of such acts of violence, coercion and arbitrary deprivation of liberty, i.e. locking up a woman in a private or public space against her will.
In Germany, there are different aid institutes available for women who have experienced physical, psychological or sexual violence, including counselling centres or women's shelters. A women's shelter is a safe house where women affected by violence can take refuge. They can live there until their situation is clarified. The addresses are confidential, which means nobody can find you there. Unfortunately, there are not enough women's shelters available around Germany, and sometimes there is no free space in them, but the staff there will definitely help you find a way.
At www.frauen-gegen-gewalt.de and frauenhauskoordinierung.de you can seek counselling in your language nearby or search for women’s shelters in your area. There is also a Helpline for women suffering violence that you can call anytime: At the number 08000 116 016, multilingual staff are available round the clock. You can learn more about domestic abuse and how to break free in our chapter Domestic Violence.
There is not a long way from sexual harassment to sexual assault or rape. Sexual assault refers to the sexual acts committed through violence or the threat of violence against the will of the victim. The ultimate form of sexual assault is rape. Sexual harassment happens when you are:
- touched against your will,
- stared at,
- verbally abused,
- forced to have sexual intercourse,
- forced to watch others have sexual intercourse,
- insulted because of your sex or gender,
- labelled with inappropriate and lewd names,
Sexual harassment can happen in public, at home or at work, by a stranger, relative, friend, colleague or boss.
Sexual harassment, assault or rape are among criminal offences in Germany as well as many other countries. The victims can either go directly to the police or contact counselling centres (anonymously, if you prefer so) and get help. Many women, who had to flee their home countries, had to face sexualised violence during their flight and even after their arrival in Germany. If you want to talk about your experiences, you can find help at counselling and therapy centres. If you are currently being harassed or threatened, for example in your refugee accommodation centre, you can contact social workers in the accommodation centre or go to an independent counselling centre. You are entitled to safe accommodation.
At www.frauen-gegen-gewalt.de and frauenhauskoordinierung.de you can seek counselling in your language nearby and/or search for a women’s shelter. You can also call the Helpline of “Gewalt gegen Frauen” at 08000 116 016. Their staff are there for you day and night, and they speak many languages.
Note: According to a survey by YouGov, half of the women in Germany have been sexually assaulted at least once. However, many do not dare to talk about it because of fear or shame. There are always public campaigns that want to raise awareness of these issues. A current example is the #metoo campaign. These campaigns show how vital it is that we raise our voices and make sexualised violence visible.
There are several contact points for women who have experienced physical, psychological or sexual violence in Germany, namely counselling centres and women's shelters. A women's shelter is a house in which women affected by violence can find protection. You can live there until your situation has been resolved. The addresses are confidential, which means nobody can find you there. At www.frauen-gegen-gewalt.de and frauenhauskoordinierung.de you can search for counselling in your language and/or women's shelters in your area. There is also a multilingual helpline which you can reach day or night by dialling 08000 116 016.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence refers to the cases in which a family member, acquaintance or other person abuses you in a physical, sexual or emotional manner. Domestic violence usually takes place within homes, but can happen in any other place as well. Many people think of domestic violence as physical violence, i.e. sexual abuse or beatings. But domestic violence has various forms: being insulted, cursed at, threatened, or controlled is also domestic violence. And so is stalking, i.e. being followed and monitored by someone.
Any type of violence is punishable in Germany, i.e. the police are obliged to react when notified about domestic violence by you or a witness.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, remember that you are not alone. Studies show, for example, that one in four women in Germany experience domestic violence. For many victims, it is difficult to share their experiences with the police or at a counselling centre. Many victims are ashamed and hope that the situation will change, that the violent person eventually calms down and stop his abusive behaviour. In most cases, however, the severity and frequency of the violence increase with time, and the gaps between the individual outbreaks of violence become shorter and shorter.
There are numerous contact points for victims of domestic violence in Germany - you must not shy away from reaching out for help.
Emergencies
Emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime. An emergency is any situation in which people, animals or property are in danger. But who should one call in an emergency? Who can help? Here you can find out who to contact in which emergency. Employees of all emergency call centres speak German. In some cases, you can also ask for help in English or other languages, but there is no guarantee. If you don't speak any German yourself, seek help from a German-speaking person who can call the emergency centre for you.
Employees of the emergency call centres must know the following:
- Where is the emergency?
- What happened?
- How many are injured?
- What are the injuries?
- Who is reporting the emergency?
German Basic Law
*** May 23, 2024, marks the 75th anniversary of the German Basic Law, that is, the German constitution, which is the basis of our coexistence in a free and democratic constitutional state. The Basic Law was promulgated in 1949. In the aftermath of the atrocious crimes committed during National Socialist tyranny, the creators of the Basic Law decided that human dignity should be paramount in the new law; so that nothing like the Nazi era ever happens again in Germany. You can learn more about the Basic Law in our video series: „Was wäre wenn?“ ***
The Basic Law or "Grundgesetz" is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. It includes the most fundamental rights that determine the way society is organised in Germany. No other law may contradict the Basic Law. For instance, the Asylum Act or the Criminal Law may not contain any ordinances which conflict with the Basic Law. The Basic Law is the most prominent body of law in Germany, hence stands above all others.
The Basic Law consists of 146 sections, i.e. "articles". The first 19 articles of the Basic Law contain the so-called "fundamental rights", i.e. the most significant human rights vis-à-vis the state, designed to protect the individual from despotism, injustice and violence from the state. Some of these fundamental rights, also referred to as "human rights", apply to everyone in Germany, regardless of residence status. The Basic Law also includes a set of other rights, referred to as "civil rights", which only apply to people who have German citizenship.
Established in West Germany in 1949, The Basic Law has been applying to all of Germany since the reunification of 1990. Many of the principles included are consequences of violations of human rights during the National Socialist dictatorship between 1933 and 1945. Fundamental rights have been given a central position in the Basic Law to ensure the atrocities of Nazi times cannot happen again.
The Federal Constitutional Court is in charge of monitoring and assuring compliance with the Basic Law. The government cannot simply amend it.
Discrimination
Discrimination is prohibited in Germany –nevertheless, many are affected by it. Whether when looking for accommodation, dealing with authorities, at work, schools, doctors' surgeries, during leisure time or with the police. Discrimination can occur in all areas of life. Am I not allowed into the club because I have a disability? Did I not get the job because I wear a headscarf? Are my children treated worse at school because they speak little German? Does the police pick me to check on the long-distance bus because I have a different skin colour? Does the cab driver refuse to take me because I am trans*? Experiences like these lead to feelings of anger, powerlessness and helplessness. Such discrimination also harms social coexistence.
However, you do not need to simply accept discrimination: you have the legal right to defend yourself against it – everyone in Germany does; regardless of their origin or residence status. This right is enshrined in the German Basic Law as one of the human rights. It is also regulated in the General Equal Treatment Act ("Allgemeinen Gleichbehandlungsgesetz" or AGG). You can take legal action against discrimination - and in certain cases, it is worthwhile to do so.
How do I find out what is the right job for me?
As a child, when we were asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" we surely had some answers ready. Later, this question is often not so easy to answer. There are many different professions, and not many are able to choose a specific vocational training or university degree without having to face hurdles. That's why the Employment Agency has put together lots of informational contents and developed various tools to help you choose a career path.
Expecting a Baby
Whether longed for or entirely unplanned, pregnancy and childbirth is a life-changing event. It can throw parents off the track for a while. In this chapter, you will find out where to seek help and support during pregnancy, what rights you have, and what issues you need to consider and plan for before childbirth.
Kita: Childcare in Germany
In Germany, most small children attend a daycare centre or "Kita", where they can find new friends, play and learn outside the home and independent of their parents. You do not have to send children to a daycare centre, but doing so can help your child learn the language and many other useful things. In addition, sending your child to kindergarten will prepare him/her for attending school and provide you with the time to focus on your integration course, education, or vocational training.
The support hotline for the victims' of violence against women is accessible round the clock and free of charge in 17 languages.
This app provides information in various languages (German, English, Arabic, Kurdish and Pashto) on violence and shows support offers in NRW for women affected by violence.