4.5 Initiatives promoting social inclusion and raising awareness
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Intercultural awareness
According to Section 11(3) of the Social Code Book VIII (SGB VIII, § 11 Abs.3), child and youth services providers in Germany must support all children and adolescents in Germany “in their personal and social development and assist in preventing or minimising disadvantages”.
In addition to the integration and inclusion strategies of the federal and state governments (see Strategy for the social inclusion of young people), there are programmes, projects, campaigns and initiatives run by and for individual areas of child and youth services. Youth associations implement measures, programmes and projects at federal and state levels to ensure their work remains fully intercultural and to support cooperation with young immigrant community organisations. One such project is the “Social Cohesion” project (Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt – vor Ort. Vernetzt. Verbunden), which aims to facilitate joint activities for all participants regardless of their origin, culture or ideology.
At federal state level, for example, the service office Intercultural learning in daycare centres and schools (Interkulturelles Lernen in Kita und Schule), part of the Saxony-Anhalt state network of immigrant community organisations (Landesnetzwerk der Migrantenorganisationen Sachsen-Anhalt) serves as an information and counselling centre for educational staff working in schools and daycare facilities across Saxony-Anhalt. It provides advice and counselling to teachers wishing to develop concepts for managing diversity. It offers training courses and coaching on intercultural learning and provides information on developing intercultural learning materials. It supports teachers in developing projects on intercultural learning that will later be implemented together with immigrant community organisations and other civil society partners working in the field.
Germany’s individual federal states also have their own intercultural programmes, which are implemented at schools. In the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, for example, intercultural perspectives and interactions are integrated into the everyday school routine rather than being limited to project days. Careful attention is given to preparing and following-up with students, to address their individual needs and interests. Topics such as “respect” and “language” are explored. Additionally, out-of-school learning opportunities are incorporated into lessons, sometimes facilitated by Erasmus+ school partnerships. One example is the multilingual readers’ theatre project (Mehrsprachiges Lesetheater zur Förderung von Lesemotivation und Leseflüssigkeit), which is carried out by universities and schools in five federal states.
The directives of the federal government’s Child and Youth Plan are the framework for the support of international youth work. Its aims are to promote young people’s intercultural skills, break down prejudices and cultivate an understanding of diverse life circumstances. The implementing acts and youth budgets and plans of the federal states contain similar requirements.
UNESCO Associated Schools
Around 300 UNESCO Associated Schools across Germany are committed to promoting intercultural education. The schools advocate a culture of peace, human rights, tolerance, democracy, intercultural understanding, environmental awareness, sustainability and global development. Students at UNESCO Associated Schools learn to assess the following key priorities and develop appropriate courses of action: human rights and democracy education, intercultural learning, environmental education, global learning and respect for UNESCO world heritage.
Youth policy initiative to promote education and participation (Jugendpolitische Initiative für Bildung und Teilhabe, JiVE)
In collaboration with public institutions, independent organisations, associations and foundations, the International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany (IJAB – Fachstelle für Internationale Jugendarbeit der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) partnered with the youth policy initiative JiVE to make international youth work accessible to all young people and to promote “intercultural openness” within German society and its institutions. Initially launched as a pilot project in 2008, JiVE ran as a youth policy initiative from 2011 to 2018. A number of sub-initiatives, such as Kommune goes International, KGI, coordinated by IJAB, have been continued. Recommendations for action and tools developed during the initiative can now be accessed on the IJAB website. The main target groups are multipliers and young people.
Young people’s rights
In Germany, young people have different rights that are enshrined in various laws. Alongside rights enjoyed by all people in Germany, for example the right to freedom of expression, the right to freedom of assembly, etc., young adults have special rights: Youth Courts Act (Jugendgerichtsgesetz, JGG), Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz, BDSG), Youth Protection Act (Jugendschutzgesetz, JuSchG).
For more information, go to Youth Wiki Chapter 1.2: Youth Policy Governance/National youth law.
The international United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted on 20 November 1989 (UN-Kinderrechtskonvention). It has been legally binding in Germany since 2010, where it has the status of a federal law (Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, UN-Kinderrechtskonventionen).
Since the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD for the 19th parliamentary term (2019), enshrining children’s rights in Germany’s Basic Law as “fundamental rights of children” has been a key priority, albeit one that has yet to be implemented. In the 20th legislative period, the coalition partners – SPD, FDP and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen – also committed to anchoring children’s fundamental rights in the Basic Law (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, UN-Kinderrechtskonventionen). However, no amendments have been made so far during the 20th legislative period. The issue has only been discussed in the Bundestag (Der Deutsche Bundestag, Verankerung der Kinderrechte im Grundgesetz). (For more information, go to Chapter 4.8: Current debates and reforms.)
The German Child Protection Association (Deutsche Kinderschutzbund Bundesverband e.V., DKSB) is committed to protecting children from violence and child poverty and implementing children’s rights in Germany. The Association is an independent child and youth services provider. It consists of the federal association, 16 state-level associations and local chapters. Together, they represent children’s interests at the federal and state policy level. The structure of the Association enables it to act as a modern service provider on behalf of children and their families. Amongst other resources, DKSB runs a website for young people aged 12 and 18 explaining their rights to them.
The National Coalition Deutschland consists of nationally active organisations and initiatives from various areas of society which come together to raise awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) in Germany and promote its implementation. The National Coalition has regular, cooperative and supporting members, among them child and youth services providers, specialist organisations and individual bodies. The National Coalition publishes position papers and organises events. Its website contains information on the UN CRC and on current developments in regard to its implementation in Germany.
Youth Check (Jugend-Check)
The Youth Check (Jugend-Check) announced by the ruling parties’ coalition agreement for the 18th legislative period was implemented by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ) together with youth organisations and contributions from other civil society organisations as part of the Youth Strategy – Action for a youth-oriented society (Jugendstrategie: Handeln für eine jugendgerechte Gesellschaft). The Youth Check is a central element of the BMFSFJ’s youth strategy. The Competence Centre Youth Check (KomJC) began its work in 2017.The findings of the Youth Check highlight, across all departments, where and how laws from various sectors can impact young people. During the 18th legislative period, the BMFSFJ sought to incorporate the Youth Check into Social Code Book VIII (SGB VIII) but failed to secure the necessary votes for the law to be amended. As a result, KomJC became a project managed by the German Research Institute for Public Administration (Deutsches Forschungsinstitut für öffentliche Verwaltung, FÖV), which now receives long-term funding from the BMFSFJ under a framework agreement.
Key initiatives to safeguard democracy and prevent radicalisation leading to violent extremism
Strategy to promote democracy and prevent extremism
Federal programme Live Democracy! (Demokrative leben!)
For information on the content, duration and funding amounts of the federal programme, go to YouthWiki Chapter 5.7: Participation/“Learning to participate” through formal, non-formal and informal learning.
Support for civic education events and projects by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, bpb)
The Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, bpb) promotes civic education events and projects for adults (aged 16 and above) in Germany. All of its activities are designed to teach the general public about society and government, European and international politics, and politically and socially relevant developments in culture, business, technology and science. bpb’s events and projects aim to assist people in making up their own minds about social and political developments, asserting their rights and interests, respecting their responsibilities towards their fellow citizens, society at large and the environment and helping to shape a liberal and democratic social order and governmental system. bpb engages in a dialogue with recognised education providers to develop its work programmes for each year.
The Alliance for Democracy and Tolerance – Against Extremism and Violence (Bündnis für Demokratie und Toleranz – gegen Extremismus und Gewalt, BfDT) operated between 2001 and 2022. The aim of the alliance was to promote democracy and tolerance (Demokratie- und Toleranzförderung) in Germany, connecting civil society organisations across the country for over 20 years. bpb has continued the project’s work since January 2023. Events such as the Active for Democracy and Tolerance competition (Aktiv für Demokratie und Toleranz) showcase and support successful civil society projects that creatively bring the principles of the Basic Law to life in everyday contexts and actively shape democracy. A prize of €10 000 is awarded.
bpb maintains a comprehensive quality management system (Qualitätsmanagement) to ensure the sustained high quality of its educational programmes. This system includes tools such as educational events, conference support, content and administrative reviews of funding applications and use verification processes.
No Hate Speech campaign in Germany
Germany has joined the No Hate Speech Movement launched by the Council of Europe to counter hate and discrimination online. It aims to take a clear stance against hate speech, develop counter-strategies and support victims. The campaign was launched in Germany in 2016. Since 2020, it has been funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMFSFJ), as part of the federal programme Live Democracy! (Demokratie leben!), as well as by FAZIT STIFTUNG, ZEIT Stiftung and the Google News Initiative. The project is organised and coordinated by the civil society association Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen e.V. The association’s key priority is to help young people and young media professionals handle hate speech in online media and social networks.
Respect Coaches (Respekt-Coaches) programme
At the end of 2018, the Respect Coaches (Respekt-Coaches) programme was launched as part of the Strengthening Youth initiative (JUGEND STÄRKEN). With over 200 experts, the programme aims to empower young people to become responsible individuals while fostering their understanding of democracy.
For more information, go to YouthWiki Chapter 6.6: Education and Training/Social inclusion through education and training.
Forum against fakes (Forum gegen Fakes) – Together for a strong democracy
Forum against fakes (Forum gegen Fakes) is a nationwide civic participation project founded in January 2024 by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (Bundesministerium des Inneren und für Heimat, BMI). The project aims to stimulate a nationwide debate on tackling disinformation and to encourage citizens to explore ways to strengthen democratic discourse. “Central to the project is the direct involvement of as many citizens as possible. By engaging the wider public, the aim is to find better ways to address disinformation and propose concrete recommendations for policymakers (Forum gegen Fakes).”
Schools without racism, schools with courage (Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit Courage)
Schools without racism, schools with courage (Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit Courage) is a nationwide civil society project for students and educators that offers participants the opportunity to speak out against all forms of discrimination, bullying and violence.
For more information, go to YouthWiki Chapter 6.6: Education and Training/Social inclusion through education and training.
There are also numerous advisory centres and prevention projects in Germany dedicated specifically to preventing extremism and supporting individuals or groups at risk. Examples include the EXIT-Germany initiative (EXIT-Deutschland), which provides assistance to individuals who want to leave extreme right-wing movements, and Wegweiser, a programme aimed at countering Islamist radicalisation.