Ratzeburg District Council: Setting the course for equality and the future of IT!

Ratzeburg District Council: Setting the course for equality and the future of IT!

The next public meeting of the Duchy of Lauenburg District Council will take place on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 4 p.m. The auditorium of the Lauenburg School of Scholars in Ratzeburg becomes the venue for important decisions. Citizens are cordially invited to follow the deliberations from the comfort of the visitors' gallery. The agenda promises a lot of exciting things, including the by-election of committee members and the appointment of another equal opportunities officer. The establishment of a municipal IT association with the Segeberg district is also on the agenda, as is the planned acquisition of shareholder shares in the Ratzeburg-Möllner transport company. Commercial area planning and a decision on unscheduled budget funds will also be on the agenda.

The documents for the meeting can be viewed on the district council's website, which creates transparency and involves the population more actively in the political process. The meeting will also open with a residents' question time so that citizens have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the politicians.

Equality in focus

A central topic at this district council meeting is equality. The municipal equal opportunities officer in Lauenburg/Elbe is tasked with promoting equal rights for men and women in the city administration. Its goal is to improve the living conditions of girls and women not only in Lauenburg, but in the entire Lütau district. In this context, the appointment of an additional equal opportunities officer is also being discussed. This position is essential in order to bring women-specific concerns into the city council and administration, to examine administrative proposals for their impact on women and to support initiatives to improve the situation of women.

Particularly noteworthy is the contact point for women in difficult life situations, which is supported by the women's advice center in the Duchy of Lauenburg. Here, women seeking help can find free, anonymous and confidential advice, which is valuable support for many. The information offered on topics such as compatibility of family and work or violence in the family is also of great importance for the local community.

Federal initiatives to promote women

But efforts to promote equality don’t stop at the local level. At the federal level, the Federal Ministry for Equal Opportunities has launched an action program that is intended to increase the proportion of women in town halls and municipal representations. The program, which started in June 2023 and runs until the end of 2024, includes financial grants for measures to promote women and a variety of support offers to bring about structural changes in local politics. Participation in this program could also be of interest to the Lauenburg region in order to further strengthen and present the position of women in politics. Regional advice, mentoring and qualification offers for women, as well as special networking meetings have great potential to improve women's participation in political processes.

The upcoming decisions in the district council are not only important for local self-government, but can also provide strong impetus for equality and the role of women in local politics. The meeting on June 26th offers the opportunity to give space to these important topics and to set the course for the future.