The EU Charter in Heidelberg

The Charter was implemented by an Equality Action Plan. The "First Heidelberg Equality Action Plan", presented by the Office of Equal Opportunities, was adopted unanimously as early as 15 November 2007. In this plan, 47 projects involving 14 offices of the City Administration altogether are summarized. 66 per cent of the measures are aimed at the target group of men and women or boys and girls, 25 per cent address women and girls directly and 9 per cent men and boys directly. All measures specified in the Equality Action Plan are also open to migrants. Almost one third (32 per cent) of the planned projects address specifically this target group representing 16.8 per cent of the Heidelberg population. With the implementation of its first Equality Action Plan Heidelberg was leading nationally. Just in time for the 2010 International Women's Day, the Office of Equal Opportunities submitted the corresponding Report.

Again Heidelberg was the first city in Germany to present its second Equality Action Plan. The second plan is based on a clearly structured framework aimed at being able to assess the state of development towards an attractive, gender-responsive municipality. The success of the measures can thus be seen not only from their implementation but also from the development of the previously defined parameters. The second Equality Action Plan came into force with the adoption of the double budget on 17 March 2011 and its approval by the Regional Government Office in Karlsruhe in May 2011. A total of 73 measures had been taken, thus 26 more than in the first plan. 17 offices from all Departments were involved, plus seven clubs and associations with their own projects. 93 per cent of the planned measures could be implemented. The Implementation Report on the second Gender Equality Action Plan was submitted to the City Council on 6 February 2014. 

"Open to Diversity and Equal Opportunities - A Stimulus for All", this is the motto of the third Action Plan of the City of Heidelberg. This time it comprises even more. Not just the issues of immigration and gender equality are to be considered but a greater diversity of possible life situations, for example on the basis of marital status, sexual identity or disability.
A broad-based civic participation process is intended to ensure that the new action plan can be shaped with wide participation of experts and citizens. Already at the opening event at the end of April 2014 citizens expressed their wishes and ideas in the fields of education, work and social life in Heidelberg. In the subsequent expert interviews, specialists provided specific information about where in Heidelberg they see the need for action and which possible improvements they prefer. Thereafter, experts and citizens together discussed the results of the first two steps in focus groups and determined priorities and recommendations for action for the Gender Equality Action Plan 2015/16. At present, the Office of Equal Opportunities is discussing all recommendations with the relevant persons and bodies and identifying realistic scopes for action.
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