Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on Wednesday to propose more women for orders of merit: “Women achieve great things in our society. Whether in clubs, companies, at universities or in culture – women ensure cohesion, humanity, progress and creativity.” They deserve thanks for that, “but also more visible recognition”. In order to increase the proportion of women in the awarding of orders of merit, Steinmeier introduces a women’s quota of at least 40 percent.
Although women and men are equally committed in our society, only around a third of the orders go to women, the Office of the Federal President announced. Steinmeier said deserving women could be found anywhere. “Look around, in your neighborhood, in your free time, at your colleagues. The Order of Merit lives on the suggestions I get from you for the award of the Federal Cross of Merit.”
The award is a way of recognizing outstanding performance for our community, said Steinmeier. “And it’s a way to give more women the recognition they deserve.”
Every citizen can nominate another person for the award of the Order of Merit. The proposal is to be addressed to the state or senate chancellery of the respective federal state. They examine the order’s suggestion and then pass it on to the Federal President for a decision.
Steinmeier expects the state and senate chancelleries that their proposals will in future contain at least 40 percent women. As long as this is not the case, men would have to wait longer for an award.
