4.3 Strategy for the social inclusion of young people
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Existence of a national strategy on social inclusion
In many policy areas, Germany has adopted national strategies that also serve the social inclusion of young people:
Youth strategy
The federal government’s cross-sectoral youth strategy (Jugendstrategie) seeks to actively involve young people in all decisions that impact their lives. It aims to provide them with the best possible conditions to navigate the challenges of youth. The youth strategy is based on the independent youth policy (Eigenständige Jugendpolitik) of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Jugend und Frauen, BMFSFJ), which highlights the shared interests of adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 27.
The National Action Plan New Opportunities for Children in Germany (Neue Chancen für Kinder in Deutschland), which was published by the BMFSFJ in October 2023, aims to set a clear direction for future youth policy.
For more information, go to YouthWiki Chapter 1: Youth Policy Governance.
Strategies for integration and inclusion through education
In Germany, responsibility for education lies with the federal states. Nationwide education strategies in terms of joint resolutions are adopted by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz, KMK), a body that is composed of all education ministers in the federal states, and then implemented at the regional level (Länder). New resolutions are regularly adopted and revised. In addition to these resolutions, the KMK frequently issues recommendations, however these are not binding for the individual federal states. A federal state agreement (Ländervereinbarung) on the common structure of the school system and the overarching national responsibility of the federal states in key education policies came into force on 9 February 2021 and includes key principles that apply across all federal states. Under the section “Overarching principles of education and upbringing” (“Übergreifende Grundsätze der Bildung und Erziehung”), the state agreement places a strong emphasis on the integration and inclusion of children and young people (KMK, federal state agreement). The goal is to improve inclusive education concepts, help schools implement inclusive practices and promote measures to integrate pupils from immigrant families.
Since 2015, the number of young people with migration backgrounds or displacement experiences attending schools in Germany has increased significantly, and the KMK regularly addresses their needs. This has resulted in a series of resolutions that focus specifically on the integration of these students. Following the outbreak of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, a growing number of children and young people from Ukraine have fled to Germany since 2022. In response, the KMK passed a resolution (Beschluss) on 23 June 2022 regarding the integration of children and young people from Ukraine, with a particular focus on German language learning and the recognition of Ukrainian school-leaving qualifications.
National Action Plan for inclusion 2.0 (Nationaler Aktionsplan Inklusion 2.0)
The National Action Plan for inclusion 2.0 (Nationaler Aktionsplan Inklusion 2.0, NAP 2.0) implements the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and is the second NAP adopted by the federal government. NAP 2.0 draws on the first National Action Plan from 2011. NAP 2.0 serves to enforce the UN CRPD and promote its practical implementation one step after another. The aim is to enable all citizens to enjoy equal access to political, social, economic and cultural life. It incorporates legislative projects such as the continued development of Germany’s legislation on equality for persons with disabilities and the Federal Participation Act (Bundesteilhabegesetz, BTHG). Adopted by the federal cabinet in 2016, NAP 2.0 comprises 175 measures in 13 areas of activity. All federal ministries contribute their own activities, projects and initiatives to the NAP. The measures are aligned with a system of objectives that builds on the UN CRPD’s definition of disability.
Key activities aimed at children and young people include:
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fostering the development of children with disabilities from a very early stage, for example by extending maternity leave
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improving the situation of mothers and fathers with disabilities
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improving the quality of inclusive early childhood education, care and upbringing,
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eliminating interface issues in the benefits systems to ensure an all-encompassing and functioning support system
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improving the protection of young people with disabilities against (sexualised) violence in institutions,
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strengthening the human and personality rights of people who identify as inter-gender
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, BMAS) is the first government contact point (or “focal point”) for implementation process steering, cross-sectoral awareness measures, updates and National Action Plan committee guidance.
The NAP 2.0 is a dynamic, evolving document that is regularly updated. In its coalition agreement for the 19th legislative period (2017–2021), the German government pledged to expand the focus on digitalisation and inclusion. As a result, additional measures were included in the NAP 2.0, particularly in response to challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Status report; Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, Statusbericht).
The NAP 2.0 is reviewed annually through a monitoring process that evaluates the measures based on their progress, reach, alignment with the CRPD, impact on civil society and sustainability. The latest status report was published in March 2023 (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, Statusbericht.
Self-advocacy groups in civil society have expressed criticism of the NAP 2.0. Concerns have been raised about the lack of involvement of people with disabilities in the further development of the action plan, as well as insufficient alignment of measures with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). As a result, there are calls for an NAP 3.0 (German Institute for Human Rights, press release on the National Action Plan 3.0; Deutsches Institut für Menschenrechte, Pressemitteilung zum Nationalen Aktionsplan 3.0).
Some federal states, such as Hesse, have also designed their own strategies. Hesse’s action plan (Hessischer Aktionsplan zur Umsetzung der UN-BRK) to implement the UN CRPD with Disabilities of 17 August 2012 is a work, information and innovation plan. It serves as a source of guidance for policies for and by persons with disabilities in the state of Hesse. The action plan contains over 350 individual measures, more than 200 individual objectives and over 70 overarching principles. Hesse’s action plan was designed in close cooperation with associations representing persons with disabilities, a large number of civil society institutions and the citizens of Hesse. Most other federal states now have specific action plans too, most of which were drawn up between 2013 and 2015. Thuringia published its action plan (Aktionsplan) in 2019.
Further information on the state of affairs of the action plans and implementation of measures of the UN CRPD at federal (Bund) and state (Länder) level can be found at the website of the National CRPD Monitoring Mechanism of the German Institute for Human Rights (Deutsches Institut für Menschenrechte).
National Strategy / Decade for Literacy and Basic Education (Nationale Strategie/Dekade Alphabetisierung und Grundbildung)
Around 6.2 million people in Germany can read and write letters, words and individual sentences, but struggle to understand longer stretches of text. To this end, the federal government and partners proclaimed a Literacy Decade (“Dekade für Alphabetisierung und Grundbildung – AlphaDekade”). Between 2016 and 2026, they aim to bring about a considerable improvement in the reading and writing skills of adults in Germany. By 2026, increased support will be made available to adults, including young adults no longer in school, to help them learn to read and write better. During this decade, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) will spend up to €180 million on literacy projects and design teaching concepts and self-learning programmes. Existing support programmes are to be expanded and new learning concepts developed. As part of AlphaDecade, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has also launched the “Reading and writing better” (“Besser lesen und schreiben”) information campaign. The project is reviewed annually by monitoring reports. The monitoring reports analyse the projects and target groups and identify priorities for the year (monitoring report data base; Monitoringbericht AlphaDekade).
Strategy to prevent extremism and promote democracy (“Gemeinsam für Demokratie und gegen Extremismus”)
In the coalition agreement for the 20th legislative period, a new strategy was adopted to combat extremism at both national and European levels. This strategy encompasses prevention, deradicalisation and effective threat management alongside efforts to promote social cohesion, democracy and to prevent extremism. The initiative is outlined in the Federal Government’s Strategy for a strong, resilient democracy and an open, diverse society (Strategie der Bundesregierung für eine starke, wehrhafte Demokratie und eine offene und vielfältige Gesellschaft). This nationwide, cross-sectoral approach emphasises the need to strengthen Germany’s diverse and democratic society, advance political education and democratic participation, develop preventive measures against anti-democratic and extremist tendencies, combat hate and disinformation online through awareness initiatives and tackle unconstitutional activities. Action is taken wherever extremism prevention and democracy promotion play a particular role, such as local authorities and districts, institutions, associations and clubs, schools and indeed anywhere where people are working to strengthen democracy and defend human rights and liberties. The strategy is designed to speak to all age groups. There are different time frames depending on the actions and measures set up and foreseen by the different ministries. Examples include the programme “Live Democracy!” (“Demokratie leben!”), organised by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ), “Cohesion through participation” (“Zusammenhalt durch Teilhabe”), set up by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (Bundesministerium des Inneren und für Heimat, BMI) and the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, bpb), “Combating antiziganism, ensuring participation!” (“Antiziganismus bekämpfen, Teilhabe sichern!”), organised by the BMI, and the BMFSFJ programme Queer leben.
National Action Plan Against Racism (Nationaler Aktionsplan gegen Rassismus)
The National Action Plan Against Racism builds on the strategy to promote democracy and prevent extremism. It aims to combat racism, homophobia and transphobia as well as other ideologies of inequality more effectively, while supporting victims. Government measures as well as projects across the following fields are planned: “human rights policy; protection against discrimination and prosecution of criminal offences; education, civic education; social and political commitment to democracy and equality; diversity at work, basic and advanced training and strengthening intercultural and social skills at work; racism and hatred on the Internet; and research” (National Action Plan Against Racism). The plan seeks to engage young people in discussions about forms of power and discrimination, providing support to teachers, parents and other contact persons through civic education. It also provides support to individuals wishing to leave extremist organisations, opposes online hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric and implements targeted measures to prevent extremism within prisons (National Action Plan Against Racism).
The individual federal states implement the national strategy independently. In Baden Württemberg, for example, school psychologists train teachers to support children and young people with experiences of displacement (“Refugees in Schools”; “Flüchtlinge in der Schule”, National Action Plan Against Racism).
Civic commitment strategy (Engagementstrategie)
On 25 January 2016, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ) launched a civic commitment strategy, which was drawn up in collaboration with civil society groups and representatives of the private sector. Its key aims are to develop a stronger civic commitment infrastructure and culture of recognition and to further improve volunteer services. The Ministry also wishes to improve the coordination of research in the field of civic commitment and establish a results-oriented support system for civic engagement. Various programmes are being implemented as part of the civic commitment strategy. Target groups are children aged 10 and above, young people and adults who work as volunteers, and organisations that support them, such as associations, foundations, initiatives, cooperatives, networks, (youth) associations or religious groups.
For more information, go to Youth Wiki Chapter 2.1: Voluntary Activities/General context.
Funding guidelines to promote the societal and social integration of immigrants (Förderrichtlinie Integration)
On 1 March 2010, the joint funding guidelines of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (Bundesministerium des Innern, BMI) and the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ) came into force to promote the social and societal integration of immigrants and individuals from immigrant communities. Programmes to promote social cohesion through participation (“Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt”) focus on fostering participation and improving the skills of immigrants, while complementing existing municipal programmes in a meaningful way. The involvement of migrant organisations is actively encouraged. Funding supports innovative, low-threshold, on-site measures that promote the social integration of young immigrants. Practice-oriented programmes are funded to strengthen social, intercultural and educational skills, encourage civic commitment, ensure the equal participation of girls and women from immigrant communities and to prevent crime and addiction. A strong emphasis is placed on establishing sustainable structures and networking activities.
Evaluations are carried out at regular intervals and the effectiveness of the funding project is reviewed.
Scope and contents
See individual strategies under Existence of a national strategy on social inclusion
Responsible authority
See individual strategies under Existence of a national strategy on social inclusion
Revisions/updates
All strategies are revised and monitored on a regular basis. The parliamentary groups in the Bundestag regularly submit motions to evaluate federal programmes. Results are published on the websites of the respective institution or ministries in charge. See also individual strategies under Existence of a national strategy on social inclusion.