Press Release

In a joint appeal, a broad alliance of more than 100 organizations, including the Humanist Association of Germany, is calling on the parliamentary groups in the Bundestag and the federal states to agree by the summer break on a law to incorporate children’s rights into the Basic Law that meets the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a global setback in terms of equality for women. Women are more disadvantaged and burdened by the pandemic, and precarious working conditions and traditional role distributions have even deepened. We need to take a close look and act to ensure that these setbacks are not cemented and gender equality is not set back by years.

The Humanist Association of Germany (Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands – Bundesverband) welcomes the fact that, one year after the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court, a draft law to regulate assisted suicide has been put forward by the German parliament. To date, doctors in Germany have continued to use an unsuitable cocktail of drugs for assisted suicide or have used an euthanasia association for a four-figure sum.

The fight for the abolition of Section 219a is entering the next round: on January 15, 2021, the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court dismissed the appeal by doctor Kristina Hänel, making the ruling legally binding. Hänel has announced that she will now lodge a constitutional complaint against Section 219a. The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association declares its solidarity with the Giessen doctor and once again calls for the deletion of § 219a without replacement.

We are very concerned about the deteriorating situation of the rule of law and human rights in Poland. In an open letter, the Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association, together with other organizations, is therefore addressing the Federal Government to draw attention to this situation.

Women’s rights are being massively restricted in Poland: Following a ruling by the Polish Constitutional Court, abortions are de facto banned. The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association reacts with horror to this new curtailment of human rights.

In February, the Federal Constitutional Court declared the ban on assisted suicide in Section 217 of the German Criminal Code to be unconstitutional and null and void. Under the initiative of Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, work is now underway to amend Section 217 as a homicide offense. Contrary to the Karlsruhe ruling, the possibilities for assisted suicide are once again to be severely restricted – as already shown by the drafts of the experts he has invited. The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association protests against this in an open letter to Spahn and criticizes the one-sided selection of his advisors.

In February, the Federal Constitutional Court confirmed a fundamental right to assisted suicide, which must also be guaranteed in practice. Without corresponding regulations, however, many desperate people seeking help continue to face almost insurmountable hurdles when it comes to making use of assisted suicide. In order to get constitutionally compliant initiatives off the ground politically, the Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association has proposed a “Suicide Assistance Conflict Law”. The draft has already been submitted to individual members of the Bundestag.

In Poland, the corona crisis is being exploited to further restrict fundamental rights such as women’s right to sexual and reproductive self-determination. The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association criticizes this in the strongest possible terms and calls for swift action by German and EU politicians.