National Guidelines in Germany - Government

National Plan of Action Strategies

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth is the primary ministry responsible for implementing the Beijing Platform of Action National Plan of Action Strategies. The Federal Government of Germany set as its objectives to implement the Beijing Platform of Action as:

1. the equal access of women to the decision-making processes at all levels of society;
2. improving the situation of women in industry, commerce and the labour market; and,
3. enforcing human rights and eliminating violence against women and girls.

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth published the Back to Work guide in cooperation with Federal Institute for Employment. The guide is intended for women who return to work after a child raising period but is to be given to them as soon as they interrupt their employment to provide guidance in their decision-making process.

In April 1998, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth published a brochure on information on the promotion of childcare in companies. It shows how a company can contribute to expanding and improving the childcare services of its employees. A table in the appendix assists in calculating the in-house costs and in weighing up the pros and cons of providing in-house child care. The brochure is a result of a pilot project, Coordination and Advisory Centre for Company-promoted Child Care, which is an advisory centre for industry and commerce in Berlin.

(K) ein Kavaliersdelikt? Sexuelle Belästigung im Arbeitsleben The Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth issued a guideline on sexual harassment in the workplace in April 1997, explaining sexual harassment, detailing the rights and obligations of employers and employees in cases of sexual harassment and remedial procedures to be taken.