Giffey underscores progress for women in Berlin

Franziska Giffey, Governing Mayor of Berlin

Berlin's Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey sees progress in gender equality in the capital.

"Since the introduction of the Berlin State Equality Act in 1991, the proportion of women in the administration has doubled to the current 64 percent," the SPD politician stated ahead of the International Women's Day this Wednesday.

Women's Day a public holiday in Berlin since 2019

Nationwide, Berlin is also leading when it comes to the proportion of women at state and denominational universities, Giffeey said. However, the porportion of female students is still only at 35.5 percent. "Every year, March 8 reminds us that we still have a long way to go on the road to gender equality," Giffey explained. She recalled income disparities, male-dominated executive suites and the fact that unpaid care work is mostly done by women. Political, economic and social participation is more difficult for women, she said. The fact that Women's Day has been a public holiday in Berlin since 2019 sends a clear signal: the whole of society must join in to make grievances visible and combat inequalities.