Strengthening parents’ competences is a central component of sustainable family policy. Various family education and counselling services provide parents with well-founded information relevant in different phases and challenges of family life. They offer mothers and fathers the option to upskill themselves for the raising of their child or to get technical support during difficult parenting situations. Families are encouraged to treat each other with respect, they get informed on preventive medical care and health promotion, receive assistance in matters of their child’s education or are made aware of a child-friendly approach to digital media. Parents can choose concrete services from a close-knit counselling network in order to improve their child-raising skills. Whether it be for prevention purposes, together with other parents or in family transitions - parents can find support and assistance close to their home thanks to around 15,000 parental advisers nationwide. Parental advisers serve as persons of trust in child daycare centres, parent-child centres and other locations where family-related education takes place.
Sexual and gender diversity
The division for the diversity of sexual orientation and gender is the coordinating unit within the Federal Government for matters and tasks relating to sexual and gender diversity. In addition, it regularly works with the Länder (federal states), LGBTIQ+ organisations and associations at national and international level.
A central project in the coalition agreement for the 20th legislative period (2021-2025) is an Action Plan for the Acceptance and Protection of Sexual and Gender Diversity at federal level. The Federal Government adopted the Action Plan in November 2022. It contains recommended measures in six fields of action (legal recognition, participation, security, health, strengthening of advisory and community structures, international affairs). Working groups will be set up for each of the Action Plan’s fields of action. The Länder and community associations will join the working groups depending on the competencies involved.
Another key project in the coalition agreement is the replacement of the outdated and unconstitutional Transsexuals Act (Transsexuellengesetz) with a Self-Determination Act (Selbstbestimmungsgesetz). The Federal Government plans to establish a uniform regulation for all trans, non-binary and intersex people who wish to change their sex entry or their first names. In June 2022, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) published a joint key issues paper on the Self-Determination Act. The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Justice, is currently drafting a bill as quickly as possible.