Equal participation in democracy

31% of members

of the German Bundestag are women (2019).

30% of members

of the state parliaments are women (2019).

28% of mandate holders

in county councils and municipal councils are women (2019).

Our goal: Establishing equal participation in democracy

Women have been allowed to vote in Germany for more than 100 years. Since then, many successes and many advancements have been made: women are active in politics, work in political institutions or are listed on the parties’ electoral lists. However, not all developments point this way: The ratio of women in the German Bundestag has gone down from 38 to 31 per cent. In some state parliaments only 12 per cent of the representatives are women. And at local government level the ratio of women has stagnated at around 25 per cent.

We want to encourage more women to pursue a career in politics; better basic conditions are required.

What we want to achieve:

The Federal Government wants a democracy in which women and men participate equally.
We want to strengthen a culture of recognition and strengthen networks for more women in politics, such as the Helen Weber College for women in local governments.

Our measures: How equal participation of women in democracy can be achieved

Supporting parity in politics
Supporting women in local governments through the Helene Weber College and the Helen Weber Prize for women in local governments
Improving participation of migrant women in politics