Kristin Rose-Möhring took the ministry to Germany's administrative court because the three positions – press spokesman, state secretary, and an independent commissioner on child abuse – were filled without consulting her. All three posts subsequently went to men.
The administrative court in Berlin ruled that from now on the in-house equality commissioner in a government ministry must be consulted when top positions are filled. Up until now, ministers generally frowned on intervention in personnel decisions.
The 59-year-old, who has been in the post since 2001, said that although the appointments were made under a different minister (Kristina Schröder was replaced by the incumbent Manuela Schwesig last year), the same structures are still in place at the ministry. "There is still room for improvement," Rose-Möhring said.
The new family minister Schwesig – who, unlike her predecessor, is in favour of gender quota in management positions – introduced a new women's equality initiative on May 1st. She claims that there are more women in leading positions in the family ministry than in any other government ministry.
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