A group of members of the Bundestag led by Green politician Armin Grau, who previously supported the draft criminal law by Castellucci and others, has invited people to a parliamentary evening on December 12. The initiators are pushing for a compromise on the regulation of assisted suicide as soon as possible.
On Thursday, November 23, the hearing of the “Commission for Reproductive Self-Determination and Reproductive Medicine” appointed by the Federal Government will take place in Berlin. The Humanist Association of Germany has also been invited to attend. A week before the hearing, a debate broke out within the EKD about the Christian requirement to protect unborn life.
On Thursday, July 6, the German Bundestag will decide on the draft legislation on assisted suicide. In an open letter, the HVD appeals to MPs to take the will of the people seriously and pass the necessary new regulations.
A joint liberal bill on the regulation of assisted suicide is being presented today. This means that it is possible that a constitutionally compliant law will be passed that leaves room for a free suicide decision and the possibility of assistance. The Humanist Association of Germany expressly welcomes this.
Students and doctoral candidates can now apply for the Bertha von Suttner Scholarship again. From May 1 to July 31, 2023, it will be possible to submit the required documents via the website of the humanistic scholarship organization. Those who successfully complete the selection process will receive non-material and financial support from the Bertha von Suttner-Studienwerk for up to two years.
The Legal Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag titled its hearing on November 28 “Assisted dying/suicide prevention”. It is thus following the agenda of the largest inter-party group of MPs around Castellucci to date, who are once again campaigning for a broad ban on assisted suicide, i.e. a new edition of Section 217, which was overturned by the Federal Constitutional Court in 2020. At the same time, the spokespeople have tabled a motion on suicide prevention. With this junction on assisted dying and suicide prevention, the group of MPs is diverting attention from its unconstitutional criminal law provision. In addition, the term “end-of-life care”, which the Legal Affairs Committee has adopted from palliative and hospice care, means that assistance is provided to terminally ill patients when they are dying. In contrast, the draft legislation deals with assisted suicide in any situation. The Humanist Association of Germany (HVD) strongly criticizes this strategic diversionary manoeuvre by Castellucci and others and warns other members of parliament not to be misled by it.
The poverty rate among children is at its highest level for years. The signatory organizations of the Child Poverty Council, including the Humanist Association of Germany, are calling on federal politicians to take decisive action against child poverty and provide the necessary funds in the federal budget.
The HVD has adopted a comprehensive position paper on the new regulation of abortions outside of criminal law. It advocates a time limit regulation that takes into account the increasing need for protection as the embryo develops. In addition, nationwide basic care for abortions must finally be provided.
The Humanist Association of Germany welcomes today’s decision by the German Bundestag to delete Section 219a of the German Criminal Code without replacement. This means that the government’s plan, which has long been demanded by a majority of experts and those affected, will finally be implemented and unhindered access to appropriate information on abortion will be made possible.
The Humanist Association of Germany (HVD) has sent a seven-point paper on assisted suicide legislation to members of the Bundestag. So far, three inter-factional draft bills are known, which most members of the Bundestag are likely to find difficult to distinguish. They are currently campaigning intensively for the recently submitted proposal, which provides for the reintroduction of Section 217 of the Criminal Code, which was overturned by the Federal Constitutional Court two years ago. On the basis of its 30 years of practical and theoretical involvement with humane euthanasia, the HVD would like to help ensure that the MPs are able to adequately assess the drafts presented to them. According to HVD Federal Board Spokesperson Erwin Kress, it is crucial that the requirements of the Federal Constitutional Court ruling of February 26, 2020 are adhered to.
