For the Legalisation of Abortion – Now! Published: 1 October 2024 President's column Presidents’ column: Pregnancy termination is still a criminal offence in Germany under section 218 of the Criminal Code, with serious consequences for access to abortion and women’s right to self-determination. There can only be one answer to this. By Imme Scholz
More Good Humour Please! In Praise of a Politics of Joy Published: 5 September 2024 President's column With fresh language and contagious good cheer, US presidential candidate Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party are generating new enthusiasm for their policies. Could that also catch on here in Germany? One thing is clear: without a positive atmosphere, democratic politics in the country will face an uphill battle. By Jan Philipp Albrecht
Germany must not ignore the dismantling of democracy in Argentina Published: 20 June 2024 President's column On June 23, Chancellor Scholz received Argentinian President Javier Milei. Not only do Milei’s reform plans accept the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law, they will also deindustrialise Argentina. This does not correspond to Germany's interests. By Imme Scholz
Freedom, Security, and Prosperity Don‘t Come for Free Published: 14 May 2024 President's column Infrastructure deficiencies are paralysing Germany. But as a result of the Schuldenbremse (debt brake), urgently needed investments – including to boost climate protection – are to be postponed. This is both risky and economically short-sighted. By Jan Philipp Albrecht
Statement by the German Political Foundations in Georgia on the Law on "Transparency of Foreign Influence" Published: 29 April 2024 Statement We, the German Political Foundations represented in Georgia, express our grave concern over the draft law on "Transparency of Foreign Influence."
We can’t save the climate without debt cancellation for the Global South Published: 16 April 2024 President's column To achieve international climate and development goals, developing and emerging countries would need an additional three trillion US dollars annually. But the Global South is currently groaning under the weight of an unmanageable debt burden. It’s time for a debt cut. By Imme Scholz
The German Government Must Take a Leading Role in the EU Published: 26 March 2024 President's column By blocking numerous EU legislative processes, Germany’s three-party “traffic light coalition” has wreaked havoc in Brussels. Given the uncertainty surrounding the makeup of the new European Parliament and the presidential election in the United States, it is clear that a U-turn is needed in German EU policy. By Jan Philipp Albrecht
Investing in the green transformation worldwide also boosts our security Published: 19 February 2024 President's column The crises and wars of our time cannot be brought to an end without international cooperation. Reducing spending on development cooperation and humanitarian aid is therefore a wrong move – which will also ultimately harm us. By Imme Scholz
I am stubborn, and that’s a good thing! Published: 25 January 2024 Portrait Yuliya Sporysh brought the “leader” concept from the male-dominated IT industry to a civil society organisation. Her NGO, Girls, supports Ukrainian girls and women as they shape their own futures independently and successfully. By Peggy Lohse
Guiding principles for anti-discrimination and diversity at the Heinrich Böll Foundation Published: 22 January 2024 The Heinrich Böll Foundation is committed to ensuring that neither employees, interns, scholarship holders, applicants, external service providers, nor visitors to the Foundation are discriminated against or disadvantaged on the basis of gender, race, religion or belief, socioeconomic status, disability or chronic illness, age, sexual or gender identity.
The Debt Brake Must Not Become a Brake on the Future Published: 19 January 2024 President's column With the floods in northern Germany, the relaxation of the country’s debt brake is back on the agenda. But instead of always returning to the same debates, what is finally needed is sustainable reform. A new study shows what this could look like and sets out the options for financing climate protection over the short term. By Jan Philipp Albrecht
75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Committed to a Peaceful Solution in the Middle East Published: 11 December 2023 President's column The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted seventy-five years ago this week. In view of the crimes committed in Germany’s name and the Shoah, this anniversary presents the country with a particular challenge in this post-October 7 world. By Imme Scholz
Anne Klein Women’s Award 2024 to Yuliya Sporysh Published: 8 December 2023 Press release The Anne Klein Women’s Award will go to the Ukrainian feminist and women’s rights activist Yuliya Sporysh in 2024.
Reasons given by the jury: Anne Klein Women’s Award 2024 Published: 8 December 2023 Honor The Ukrainian feminist and women’s rights activist Yuliya Sporysh is to receive the Anne Klein Women’s Award 2024.
We cannot lose sight of the two-state solution Published: 15 November 2023 Statement We empathize with the pain and suffering of all Israelis – as well as with the pain and suffering of the Palestinians. A peace perspective requires a political solution that guarantees the right to self-determination and security for both Israel and Palestine.
Against the Darkness Published: 9 November 2023 President's column These days it is easy to become pessimistic about social cohesion and the state of democracy. But the results of the recent Polish elections show that it pays to fight for democracy. By Jan Philipp Albrecht
Towards Greater Accessibility Published: 13 October 2023 Diversity is part and parcel of our organisational culture. Our aim is to transform the Heinrich Böll Foundation into a space that is welcoming to people with disabilities. The following is meant to provide information about the accessibility of our building, our events, about accessible modes of transportation, as well as regarding our website.
Why we need to reconfigure globalisation Published: 10 October 2023 President's column A climate-neutral world free of hunger and poverty is a distant proposition. Still, it is achievable. If, by means of redistribution and global cooperation, we manage to create prosperity for all, democracy will profit too. By Imme Scholz
Statement by the Heinrich Böll Foundation on the Hamas attack on Israel Published: 9 October 2023 Statement We condemn the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel in the strongest possible terms.Our full solidarity now goes to Israel, which has every right to defend itself against terror.