Citizens' assembly

We think inclusively and intersectionally. That is why we work specifically to counteract structural disadvantage. This also includes including people with multiple disadvantages in our gender equality work. In addition to women, queer people are also a disadvantaged group in terms of gender relations in our society and sometimes have different needs than the majority. The city of Erlangen should be a place worth living in for all people.

For this reason, we would like to explicitly invite trans* women and queer people to the citizens' assembly. They should have the space to actively participate and make their voices heard.

If you have any questions in this regard, please contact the Equal Opportunities Office and the Office for Equal Opportunities and Diversity.

Citizens' Assembly on March 26, 2025 at Erlangen City Hall

Equal Opportunities Officer Dr. Nora Hahn-Hobeck welcomes the citizens present and introduces the leaders of the meeting, Sabine Bock, Officer for the Environment and Climate Protection, and Anke Steinert-Neuwirth, Officer for Culture, Education and Leisure. The two took the floor, welcomed those present to the meeting and introduced themselves and their work as officers of the City of Erlangen.

Dr. Nora Hahn-Hobeck then introduces the team from the Equal Opportunities Office and explains some of the new features of the Citizens' Assembly. The partially adapted format of the Citizens' Assembly is intended to enable the participation of women* and mothers by providing childcare and starting the event earlier. The aim is to draw attention to the topic of financial independence with a short thematic presentation.

For this reason, Kerstin Brunner, fee-based consultant for financial and legal provision, was asked to give a keynote speech on the topic of "Women's money mindset".

This will be followed by an explanation of the legal framework and the modalities of the citizens' assembly. The speakers then hand over the floor to the citizens for their concerns and motions.

Resolved motions:

1. promotion of citizen participation

In the 1980s, there were more opportunities for direct citizen participation in the city of Erlangen, where low-threshold participation of women was possible.

Motion:

In future, the City of Erlangen and in particular the Equal Opportunities Office should offer different formats for citizen participation such as working groups, workshops and conferences on the topics of women and family, gender-sensitive urban planning, women and public transport and women and health.

The motion was adopted by a majority.

2. naming streets after women

In Erlangen, too few street names are named after women and thus their share of society is not reflected. This trend stands in the way of making women visible.

Deputy Equal Opportunities Officer, Denise Herbolsheimer:

"Erlangen's twin city Rennes (France) has recognized the problem of the insufficient proportion of women among street names and has therefore decided that all new streets, with a few exceptions, will be named exclusively after women until parity is achieved."

Officer for Culture, Education and Leisure, Anke Steinert-Neuwirth:

"The Equal Opportunities Office also campaigned 30 years ago by naming more streets with female names. And the renaming of streets and squares whose names are associated with the Nazi past, such as Erwin-Rommel-Straße, is also a concern for Erlangen City Council. A clear distinction must be made here between renaming and renaming. The renaming of already named streets in particular is very time-consuming. However, the naming of new streets and squares in Erlangen is much easier and it is therefore all the more important that this concern of the citizens is incorporated into the process of renaming."

In the further discussion, it is suggested that the renaming of streets should be approached from an intersectional perspective and that other diversity dimensions should be taken into account in addition to the gender dimension.

Motion:

The city administration should survey the current distribution of street names according to women and men. In addition, the city of Erlangen should commit to renaming or renaming all streets and public spaces after people who are female until parity is achieved. All dimensions of diversity should be taken into account.

The motion was adopted by a majority.

3. stocktaking of women in management positions

Many management positions are still held by men and women are therefore underrepresented. In order to change this, an inventory is needed of how many women are currently employed in management positions in Erlangen companies.

Proposal:

The city administration of Erlangen determines how many management positions in the city of Erlangen, in the municipal subsidiaries and in Erlangen companies are currently held by women.

The motion is put to the vote and passed by a majority.

4. honoring the Mothers Against Nuclear Power Erlangen

Women and women's groups are rarely recognized appropriately for their work and commitment. For example, the "Mothers Against Nuclear Power" initiative in Erlangen has received little appreciation for its contribution to dealing with the Chernobyl disaster. To this day, it is mainly men who are honored for their work.

Environmental and climate protection officer, Sabine Bock:

"The anniversary of the "Remembrance of the Chernobyl disaster" on 26.04.2026 would be a suitable time to focus on the commitment of the "Mothers against nuclear power"."

Motion:

The commitment of women and women's initiatives as part of the "Mothers against Nuclear Power" initiative (based at the Erlangen Mothers' Center), who have been involved in coming to terms with the Chernobyl disaster in Erlangen, should be honored in the context of the anniversary on 26.04.2026.

The motion was approved by a majority.

5. consideration of women in the awarding of prizes and honors

The work of women should be given greater recognition. Too often, men are honored for actions that women are behind. Women are usually left behind without thanks and appreciation. Women must therefore be considered more often, e.g. in the selection of prize winners for awards, the awarding of honorary letters and other municipal honors.

Motion:

The city administration of Erlangen should take a gender-sensitive approach to the selection of prize winners for award ceremonies, honorary letters and other recognitions of commitment.

The motion was adopted by a majority.

6. prioritization of structurally disadvantaged groups in childcare and education offers

Single parents have a greater need for childcare and education services than parents who live together. As single parents feel a greater impact if they cannot find a childcare place for their child, they should be prioritized when allocating childcare places. The same applies to vacation offers and family and educational sponsorships. It would also be important to prioritize not only single parents, but also other structurally disadvantaged parents and families such as migrants. At the same time, the booklet on vacation care offers is praised.

Motion:

The city administration of Erlangen is requested to create the possibility for structurally disadvantaged parents and families as well as single parents and migrants to be prioritized in the allocation of childcare places, vacation offers, and family and educational sponsorships.

The motion is adopted by a majority.

7. separate parent meetings at the youth welfare office

Separated parents can usually only attend joint appointments at the youth welfare office of the city of Erlangen. According to experience reports, the reason for separation is not taken into account in the contact arrangements at the Youth Welfare Office.

Mothers who have separated due to partner violence, for example, currently have to attend parenting meetings at the youth welfare office together with their ex-partner. This procedure favours the re-traumatization of victims of domestic violence and is therefore contrary to the implementation of protection against violence in accordance with the Istanbul Convention. Previous attempts to obtain individual appointments have been unsuccessful.

In Berlin, for example, a council of victims has been set up, which is made up of women affected by violence and specialist advice centers. This would be an instrument for implementing protection against violence in accordance with the Istanbul Convention in the city administration of Erlangen. This council could advise the administration in order to incorporate the perspective of those affected by violence into the development and implementation of measures.

Motion:

The city administration of Erlangen, in particular the youth welfare office, should examine whether it would be possible to set up a council for victims of domestic violence based on the Berlin model. In addition, it should be possible for separated parents to have separate parent-teacher conferences at the youth welfare office. The youth welfare office should be explicitly asked about this and, if a wish is expressed, it should be followed up.

The motion is adopted by a majority.

8. use of the bicycle stand behind the train station

The use of some places in Erlangen makes many women feel unsafe (especially at night). For example, the bicycle parking area behind the underpass, which is located in the direction of the DB parking lot, is only sparsely lit and remote. The so-called "old bicycle cage" behind the station, which is currently cordoned off, should therefore be made available for use again and made available for new bicycle parking spaces instead. Furthermore, the gender perspective should be given greater consideration in urban planning in Erlangen so that the safety needs of women are not ignored.

Motion:

It is requested that the cordoned-off area under Hochstraße behind the train station (old bicycle cage) be reopened for regular use as a bicycle stand. Particularly in view of the fact that the lighting and visibility offer a considerably greater sense of security, especially for women*, than almost all other parking spaces on offer.

The motion is adopted by a majority.

9. women's night cabs in Erlangen

One measure to better meet the safety needs of women on their way home could be women's night cabs, as in the city of Munich. In the past, women in Munich were able to collect vouchers for a ride home at night from publicly accessible locations. The vouchers could be redeemed by women at the weekend between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and were valid for the journey to a residential address.

Motion:

The city administration of Erlangen should develop measures to improve the safety of women on their way home. For example, women's night cabs should be introduced in the city of Erlangen, following the example of the city of Munich.

The motion was adopted by a majority.

10. training of ESTW drivers

A free service that can already improve the safety of women on their way home is the option of allowing people to get off the bus between bus stops after 8 pm. However, not all bus drivers were aware of this offer from Erlangen's public utilities company. As a result, this option was often not granted. The ESTW service is not well known among drivers or the target group and is therefore not used. For this reason, the offer should be advertised more strongly both on buses and in public places.

Motion:

The drivers of Erlanger Stadtwerke should be trained and sensitized to the fact that they are allowed to let people get off between bus stops on bus journeys after 8 pm. This is intended to improve safety for women on their way home at night. The service will continue to be advertised on the bus display boards and to the general public, as well as to specific target groups. To this end, cooperations are to be established and a communication campaign developed.

The motion was approved by a majority.

11. public relations work of the Equal Opportunities Office and flyers on women's networks in Erlangen

A request submitted in advance asks what contact points there are for victims of domestic violence, both physical and psychological, and what women's networks exist. In the discussion, it was noted that an overview of the services and advice centers of the women's networks in Erlangen would be desirable. In addition, women-specific events organized by the Equal Opportunities Office and other women's initiatives in Erlangen are not sufficiently well known in the respective networks.

Equal Opportunities Officer, Dr. Nora Hahn-Hobeck:

"The Equal Opportunities Office of the City of Erlangen has only been fully staffed again for a few months. We are actively working on making our work transparent for the city community and promoting it. Around 8 March (International Women's Day) and 25 November (International Day against Violence against Women), for example, a diverse supporting program is organized with various events in cooperation with different active groups. Otherwise, the work of the Equal Opportunities Office is promoted through public relations work and old networks are already being reactivated. Advice centers and women's networks in Erlangen are listed on the city's homepage and are regularly updated."

Motion:

The public relations work of the Equal Opportunities Office should be improved in order to reach more people from the public and inform them about its services. Furthermore, the Equal Opportunities Office should produce an up-to-date information flyer on the existing women's networks and advice centers for women in Erlangen.

The motion was adopted by a majority.

12. information on the Istanbul Convention in plain language

One point in a request submitted in advance is the request to explain the Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention was mentioned several times during the course of the evening and explained by the Equal Opportunities Office (Denise Herbolsheimer) in plain language. This should be made available in plain language on the city's website.

Motion:

The city of Erlangen should provide information on the Istanbul Convention in plain language on the homepage erlangen.de. The employees of the city administration should also be trained and sensitized to the topic.

The motion was adopted by a majority.

13. development of an interdepartmental strategy for the Istanbul Convention

Another concern was the extent to which the implementation of the Istanbul Convention has progressed at municipal level and which actors are involved.

Officer for Culture, Education and Leisure, Anke Steinert-Neuwirth:

"It's not just the Equal Opportunities Office that is responsible for the issue, the responsibility for implementing the Istanbul Convention at municipal level lies with the entire city administration of Erlangen. A cross-departmental strategy is needed to implement the objectives of the Convention, namely knowledge transfer, prevention, protection and information transfer, in a binding manner."

In the further discussion, the citizens present agreed to submit a motion, despite a lack of human and financial resources, to reaffirm the concern for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention towards the city administration.

Motion:

The City of Erlangen develops a catalog of measures and a cross-departmental strategy for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Erlangen. Good examples from other municipalities, such as the equality action plan in Nuremberg and the advisory council for affected persons in Berlin, should be taken into account.

The motion was adopted by a majority.

14. cleanliness of Erlangen's city center

The city center of Erlangen is dirty and littered, especially in the area in front of shopping centers such as the Arcaden, especially on Sunday mornings. In other cities, the city center would be cleaner than in Erlangen.

Request:

The cleanliness of Erlangen's city center should be guaranteed.

The motion is passed by a majority.

Lord Mayor Dr. Florian Janik welcomes the citizens present to the citizens' assembly and introduces the leaders of the assembly, Sabine Bock, Head of the Department for the Environment and Climate Protection, and Dr. Birgit Marenbach, Chairwoman of the Green List Erlangen.

Dr. Birgit Marenbach and Sabine Bock took the floor, welcomed those present and then referred to the general rules of procedure. Dr. Birgit Marenbach reports that recommendations and concerns from citizens are dealt with within three months by the City Council, the committee or, in the case of ongoing matters, by the administration, depending on the responsibility.

Finally, those present on the podium - Equal Opportunities Officer Christina Nießen-Straube, Head of Department for Child Daycare in Mainstream Facilities and Child Daycare Sandra Ebersberger and Equal Opportunities Officer Gesine Gumann (minutes) - introduce themselves and explain their respective areas of responsibility.

At 8:09 p.m. Sabine Bock gives the floor to the citizens for their concerns and motions.

1. the Istanbul Convention
The Istanbul Convention has not yet been implemented in many areas.

Equal Opportunities Officer, Christina Nießen-Straube:
It is hoped that the nationwide Violence Assistance Act will provide a right to protection and counseling. The city of Erlangen is currently trying to set up a threat management system in the city administration.

In addition, work is currently being carried out throughout Middle Franconia to secure evidence confidentially.

The proposal to set up a committee to implement the Istanbul Convention is supported.

Chairwoman of the Erlangen Green List, Dr. Marenbach:
The film of the International Women's Group Erlangen will be made available and a contact to the International Women's Group Erlangen will be established. (Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRDtt757zY0&list=PLO8JRsWxI3iCMy5QQtINxE1pGZmhnYWh5)

Motion
The Istanbul Convention should be implemented in all municipal departments. The city should disseminate the Erlangen International Women's Group's film on the Istanbul Convention in a supportive manner and create a committee in which all stakeholders meet every six months to implement the Istanbul Convention.

The motion was put to the vote and passed by a majority.

2. off-peak hours and emergency care
Two or more daycare centers should offer care during off-peak hours (before 7.30 a.m. and after 4 p.m.). There should be more emergency care in elementary school from 11.15 am. Can parents or volunteers take over emergency care? The results should also be passed on to the Center for Single Parents Grünes S.O.f.A. e.V.

Head of department for child day care in regular facilities and child day care, Ms. Ebersberger:
In the municipal school child facilities, emergency care cannot be offered from 11.15 a.m. because these have a fixed operating license for a certain number of children in accordance with the Bavarian Child Education and Care Act. Such care may be possible in facilities that are not bound by BayKiBiG regulations. School childcare will be expanded by 2026.

In daycare centers, opening hours are determined according to demand and depending on staffing levels.

Parents and volunteers can help out, but in BayKiBiG facilities this has no effect on the statutory staffing ratio, which should be adhered to in childcare.

Proposal
The City Council should deal with off-peak times and emergency care in daycare centers and elementary school from 11.15 am.

The motion is put to the vote and passed by a majority.

3. safe crossings at Erlangen main station
There is no safe route from Bahnhofsplatz across Goethestraße. It is proposed that a crosswalk or traffic lights be installed on both sides of the station.

Chairwoman of the Erlangen Green Party, Dr. Marenbach:
The situation on Goethestraße has been known for many years, but no solution has yet been found. Elsewhere, an application for a crosswalk was rejected by the planning authority on the grounds that it would only pretend to be safe.

Proposal
Two safe crosswalks should be created at the station on Goethestraße, for example by means of push lights or crosswalks.

The motion is put to the vote and approved by a majority.

4. cycle path on Dechsendorfer Damm/Sankt Johann
The cycle path on Dechsendorfer Damm is narrow and difficult to cycle on.

Proposal
The south side of Sankt Johann Street from Killingerstraße to Möhrendorfer Straße should be made accessible to bicycles. A cycle path should be created there in both directions, which is marked and signposted.

The motion was put to the vote and approved by a majority.

5. crossing over Weisendorfer Straße at Heusteg
At the Erlangen Heusteg bus stop, there is a bend in Weisendorfer Straße that is difficult to see without a safe crossing.

Chairwoman of the Erlangen Green Party, Dr. Marenbach:
As Weisendorfer Straße is a state road, it is probably not possible to install push traffic lights there.

Proposal
At the Erlangen Heusteg bus stop, a crossing over Weisendorfer Straße is to be created with a traffic light.

The motion is put to the vote and approved by a majority.

6. film by the Erlangen International Women's Group about everyday racism
The Erlangen International Women's Group has made a film about the experiences of Erlangen women with everyday racism.

Application
The film by the Erlangen International Women's Group on the subject of everyday racism(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iIOMhGZtKc) is to be shown in the City Council, the Foreigners' and Integration Advisory Council and in interested schools in Erlangen.

The motion is put to the vote and approved by a majority.

7. cross-mentoring programCrossing over Weisendorfer Straße at Heusteg
A cross-mentoring program is to be created in the city of Erlangen for the exchange and networking of women.

Equal Opportunities Officer, Christina Nießen-Straube:
The Equal Opportunities Office supports this idea and takes it on board.

8. time of the meeting

Chairwoman of the Erlangen Green Party, Dr. Marenbach:
At what time and in which month should the next citizens' assembly take place?

8 p.m. is considered a good time. However, the time is a problem for childcare. It is suggested to offer the meeting earlier (6 p.m.) and with childcare or hybrid. It is also suggested that the desired time be requested via social networks.

9. better communication of the event
The advertising for the event did not reach many women (especially women in difficult life situations or women with a history of migration).

Chairwoman of the Erlangen Green Party, Dr. Marenbach:
How did those present find out about the event?

Those present found out about the event from various sources (Erlangen news, word-of-mouth, intranet of the city of Erlangen, event of the Erlangen International Women's Group, portal of the city of Erlangen).

Equal Opportunities Officer, Christina Nießen-Straube:
How can more women be reached?

It is suggested that posts be made on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Nebenan.de). The reasons for attending a citizens' assembly should be communicated. Posters in community centers and on city poster stands as well as direct contact with women's groups (e.g. for inclusion in their flyers or mailing lists) are also mentioned.

Officer for the Environment and Climate Protection, Ms. Bock:
Women multipliers can contact the Equal Opportunities Office for a contact.

10 Transparency
It is difficult to find applications submitted by citizens on the Internet. How can citizens view applications from previous citizens' or citizens' assemblies?

Environment and Climate Protection Officer, Ms. Bock:
The motions can all be found in the minutes of the meetings.

Chairwoman of the Erlangen Green Party, Dr. Marenbach:
The minutes of all committees can be found in the citizens' portal of the City of Erlangen(https://ratsinfo.erlangen.de/info.asp). Consideration is being given to how the site can be better designed.

Proposal
A separate page should be set up on the City of Erlangen's website where all motions submitted at citizens' meetings, district and local advisory council meetings can be found. The topic and date of the motion should be noted there.

The motion is put to the vote and approved by a majority.

11 Motions
Is a motion strengthened if it is submitted twice? Are the motions from the Citizens' Assembly and the Citizens' Assembly considered together?

Officer for the Environment and Climate Protection, Ms. Bock:
Motions are not strengthened if they are submitted twice. Motions should be submitted in advance, but only become valid and forwarded to the relevant bodies once a majority of the assembly has passed a resolution.

12. existence of the citizens' assembly
How long has the Citizens' Assembly in Erlangen been in existence and how did it come about?

Dr. Marenbach, Chairwoman of the Erlangen Green Party:
The Citizens' Assembly is enshrined in the City of Erlangen's rules of procedure. It has existed since around the mid-1980s.

It was fought for by women.

13th film screening
The film "Istanbul Convention: the forgotten law" by the International Women's Group Erlangen will be shown on 25.11.2023 in the E-Werk.

After there were no more requests to speak, Dr. Birgit Marenbach closed the citizens' assembly at 9:29 p.m. and thanked the citizens for the discussion and for their commitment.

on behalf of

signed.

Equal Opportunities Office