Women

The UN Convention on the Status of Women aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.

This agreement has been ratified by 189 contracting states and has thus become national federal law.

The Federal Republic of Germany is one of the contracting states. This means that the agreement has the status of a federal law. The federal, state and municipal levels are therefore responsible for its implementation.

The agreement itself identifies the many forms of discrimination against women in the areas of education, labour, citizenship, political participation, women's rights in marriage, in the family and the strengthening of women's rights in rural areas.

The booklet from the networking centre in Lower Saxony provides a summary.

The Women's College of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has once again put together a training programme for 2026.

The programme is called "Women shaping the future" and can be found under the links.

Beckum Women's Counselling Centre

The women's advice centre and specialist centre against sexualised violence offers women and adolescent girls a protected space with competent advice and support in difficult situations. The premises are accessible via a lift.

The advice centre can be reached by telephone on 02521 16887

Help with sexual abuse of children

If you suspect or know something about child sexual abuse, the N.I.N.A. e.V. counselling centre can help.

You can call anonymously and free of charge at
0800 2255530
.

The telephone is manned at the following times.

Office hours

• Mondays and Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 to 9 pm
• Sundays 3 to 8 pm

Not available on public holidays and on 24 and 31 December.

Barrier-free help hotline for victims of violence

08000 116 016

60 counsellors are available 24 hours a day on this free telephone number for women affected by violence and their relatives or professionals.

You can find more information about this helpline in the Violence section.

Psychosocial process support

Since 2017, particularly vulnerable people have been entitled to professional support and assistance throughout the criminal proceedings.

Helpline for pregnant women

0800 4040020 anonymous & secure

Since 1 May 2014, pregnant women in distress have been able to contact this free helpline. The service has been expanded to include anonymous online counselling. There you can receive free and qualified initial counselling 24 hours a day. The guide function can refer you to a local advice centre. The counselling sessions are anonymous, barrier-free and can be conducted in several languages.

Background: On 1 May 2014, the "Act on the Expansion of Assistance for Pregnant Women and the Regulation of Confidential Birth" came into force.

Help with giving up alcohol and cigarettes

The IRIS online counselling programme helps pregnant women to abstain from alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It is anonymous and free of charge.

Help for surviving dependants

The Leuchtturm ON project was launched by the Leuchtturm e.V. team in Schwerte in North Rhine-Westphalia.

It is aimed at teenagers and young adults between the ages of 12 and 25 who have lost someone to suicide.

The free online counselling team consists of 2 professionals and volunteer and trained peers.

Counselling for families

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth launched the family benefits information tool on 4 August.

With this tool, expectant parents and families can find out which family benefits and, if applicable, other support services are available and under which conditions they can be applied for.

shocking news

Did you know that until the end of the 1950s, all assets brought into the marriage by a woman were automatically transferred to the man?

He was then also responsible for managing the money.

Incidentally, also for the earnings of his wife if she was in an employment or service relationship.

This changed in 1958 with the Equal Rights Act. And yet it was not until 1977 that women were allowed to work without the additional requirement that this was compatible with their marital and family duties .

Even today, there are still more gaps in women's CVs due to child-rearing or family care periods than in men's CVs. Women often work part-time for long periods and therefore pay less into the pension fund. This reduces the pension in old age!

This, coupled with longer life expectancy, which is synonymous with a longer dependency on pension payments in old age, unfortunately all too often calls out "hello poverty in old age!

Fact check:

A look into the past is worthwhile

• Money corrupts character
• That is not my place
• Money is the root of all evil
• You can't buy happiness
• The man brings the money home
• There are more important things than money
• You don't talk about money
• ...

Well, what sounds familiar? Time to change it!

How about taking stock? Get an overview and take action!

Did you know that in Germany you are considered poor if you can't get by without a salary for three months?

If you would like to have your pension gap in black and white, you can have it calculated.

Gender Pension Gap

or are we talking about the gap in pension provision between women and men

Definition:
TheGender Pension Gapis also referred to as the "gender pension gap" or "pension gap". The indicator describes the relative difference in retirement income between men and women aged 65 and over. It indicates the percentage by which the average retirement income of women is higher (negative value) or lower (positive value) than that of men.

However, retirement income also includes, if available, old-age and survivors' pensions and pensions from individual private provision. However, survivors' pensions depend on the spouse's gainful employment and can therefore, depending on the purpose of this retirement income, be taken into account when calculating the retirement pension.Gender Pension Gapsare excluded. In this way, income differentials can be presented solely on the basis of independent benefits.

When calculating the gender pension gap, the focus is on the individual person, not the household and the joint household income. This means that the actual pension situation of women cannot be derived from the gender pension gap alone.

Create perspectives

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) has launched a new information platform.

The new information portal "perspektive-schaffen.de" is part of the equality policy action programme "Gleichstellung am Arbeitsmarkt. Creating prospects" (GAPS),

The new portal provides information on various topics relating to equality in the labour market.

Women in politics - strengthening diversity, shaping the future

Women in politics are not a "nice-to-have", but a democratic necessity. Our society is diverse - and this must also be reflected in political decision-making processes. Despite progress, women are still underrepresented in local, state and federal politics. We want to change that.

Equal rights need visibility

Genuine equality only comes about when women have an equal say in decision-making. Political bodies that are predominantly made up of men do not fully reflect the realities of the population's lives. More women in politics means more perspectives, fairer decisions and a sustainable democracy.

Demographic change as an opportunity

Demographic change presents our society with major challenges - from care and education to municipal infrastructure. Women bring important experience and expertise to these issues. Their commitment is crucial for sustainable and social solutions, especially at a local political level.

Shady sides: Hurdles and sexism

Women in politics are still confronted with structural barriers, prejudice and overt or subtle sexism. There must be no room for derogatory comments, a lack of recognition or targeted intimidation.

Further training and empowerment

Targeted further education programmes for women are a central key to greater political participation. Whether rhetoric, local political expertise, media skills or strategies against sexism - we offer practical qualifications that support and strengthen women on their political path.
Relevant offers are published in the News section.

More women in politics - now

Democracy thrives on participation. We need more women in political offices, councils and committees - at all levels. The aim must be to inform, network and encourage women to take on responsibility and play an active role in shaping politics. At the same time, we need to scrutinise political structures and create structures for participation.

Shape a fairer political future - for more women in politics, for equal rights and for a strong democracy.

Social institutions, local politicians and local equal opportunities officers are organised in the District Women's Forum.

We work together on women's policy issues. The spring reception takes place annually and special topics are focussed on in coordination.

The forum meets quarterly.

Changes to maternity protection

Since 1 June 2025, a new regulation on maternity protection for miscarriages has been in force.

The entitlement to maternity leave in the event of a miscarriage is now staggered over time.

But the:

1. 13th week of pregnancy is 14 days
2. 17th week of pregnancy six weeks
3. But the 20th week of pregnancy eight weeks

If employment is prohibited, the employer is reimbursed the full amount of the maternity allowance, according to the law.