Constitutional: Equality

Description

Article 3 Paragraph 2 of the German Basic Law (GG) regulates the legal and factual equality of men and women: "Men and women are equal. The state promotes the actual enforcement of equality between women and men and works to eliminate existing disadvantages." The second sentence formulates a state goal and was only added in 1994. It obliges the state to actively reduce inequalities in everyday life and to promote real equal opportunities. "Men and women are equal." – this unrestricted statement initially met with fierce rejection from the male majority in the Parliamentary Council. It was mainly the SPD politician and jurist Elisabeth Selbert who, together with the three other female members of the council – Friederike Nadig, Helene Weber, and Helene Wessel – mobilized resistance and ultimately succeeded. In January 1949, Article 3 Paragraph 2 was adopted and came into force on May 23, 1949. Historian and author Heike Specht discusses with constitutional lawyer Alexander Thiele about legal equality between men and women and the implementation of the state goal formulated in sentence 2. Further information about the panel will follow.

Highlights

• Discussion about Article 3 Paragraph 2 of the Basic Law
• With constitutional lawyer Alexander Thiele and historian Heike Specht
• Venue: Urania Berlin

General Information

The event addresses the legal and factual equality of men and women according to Article 3 Paragraph 2 of the Basic Law. Experts discuss the challenges and progress in implementing this state goal.

Location

An der Urania 17, 10787 Berlin, Germany

Hide Map

Loading map...

How to get there

Get Directions