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Federal President Steinmeier at an award ceremony in Thuringia in March
Photo: Kristin Schmidt / dpa
"Women achieve great things in our society": Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wants to award 40 percent of the Orders of Merit to women in the future.
"Whether in clubs, companies, at universities or in culture - women ensure cohesion, humanity, progress and creativity," said Steinmeier.
They deserve thanks for that, “but also more visible recognition”.
According to data from the Office of the Federal President, only about a third of the Orders of Merit went to women in recent years.
Last year, 383 women and 728 men received the order - a women's quota of 34 percent.
In order to increase the proportion, Steinmeier appealed for more women to be proposed.
“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.«
“Giving more women the recognition they deserve”
The award is a way to honor outstanding achievements 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 to include at least 40 percent women in their proposals in the future.
As long as this is not the case, men would have to wait longer for an award.
fek/dpa