Gender & diversity portal
In 2012, a group of experts at Hannover Medical School, led by the gender equality officer and supported by a small fund from Lower Saxony's Ministry of Science and Culture, developed a strategy paper on Gender and Diversity. Based on ethical principles not only for physicians but for all healthcare professionals, it was agreed that MHH should establish and explicitly commit to a Gender and Diversity Strategy.
The categories of diversity for MHH's strategy were adopted from the six discriminating features outlined in the German Federal Antidiscrimination Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG): Age, Disability (as defined by the WHO), Ethnic Background, Gender (as a cross-cutting category), Religion/Philosophy of Life, and Sexual Orientation/Identity. Additionally, the equally important categories of Family Situation, especially Parenthood, and Social Status were included.
Several measures have been proposed to ensure a discrimination-free culture for work and study at the university, some of which have already been implemented. For example, this website has been established, where relevant literature and information on guidance centers for the different categories of diversity, both inside and outside MHH, can be found. Guidelines for responding to sexualized discrimination and violence at MHH have also been adopted by the university’s Senate. In 2013, MHH became a signatory of the Charter of Diversity (Charta der Vielfalt), a coalition of German organizations and companies supporting diversity.
Gender Diversity at Universities
Following the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) on October 10, 2017, the Personal Status Act (PStG) was amended in Germany on December 18, 2018. There are now four options for recording gender: male, female, diverse, and no entry. The BVerfG ruling strengthens the right to gender self-determination and is therefore also groundbreaking for trans* individuals and people who identify as non-binary.
The bukof has now developed recommendations for action on gender diversity at universities with the goal of making gender diversity more visible and strengthening it at academic institutions (german version: Handlungsempfehlungen für Geschlechtervielfalt an Hochschulen)
Additionally, here you will find the legal brief by Dr. jur. Louis Kasten for the University of Kassel, dated October 16, 2019, on the significance of the ‘third option’ at universities. It addresses the reduction of discrimination against non-binary and binary intersex and trans individuals (german version: Juristisches Kurzgutachten).
"The aim of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) is to prevent or eliminate discrimination based on race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual identity. The protection against discrimination in employment and occupation is the main focus of the AGG, in accordance with the guidelines of the relevant directives. In addition to a legal prohibition of discrimination in employment and its exceptions, the AGG regulates measures and obligations of employers to protect against discrimination, as well as the rights of employees (right to complain, right to refuse performance) and their claims in the case of violations of the anti-discrimination rule (compensation, damages). The AGG also includes provisions for protection against discrimination in civil transactions. In addition to a civil law prohibition of discrimination based on race or ethnic origin, it also establishes a prohibition of gender-based discrimination. However, in accordance with European legal requirements, this only applies to mass transactions and private law insurances. The General Equal Treatment Act, which is intended to implement four EU anti-discrimination directives, came into force on August 18, 2006." (Source: Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth, 2010; Translation MHH Equal Opportunities Office)
German documents:
Dear colleagues,
In order to make Hannover Medical School more free from discrimination and more gender-equitable, the Equality Office, in coordination with the executive board, has developed a guide for discrimination-free writing. This guide explains what "gendering" actually means, how it relates to the AGG, how discrimination-free writing can work in everyday life, and where MHH is already implementing these approaches. You can conveniently download the guide here (only german version).
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us. Enjoy reading and trying it out!