Press release: You don’t skimp on promoting democracy - especially not now. Broad alliance demands more money for democracy program

Broad alliance calls for more money for democracy program

The criticism of the federal government and its democracy promotion program is growing. Around 120 civil society organizations and around 120 supporters called on Family Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD) in an open letter on Friday to provide more money for “Live Democracy!”: 200 million euros a year instead of the previously promised 115 million euros all go to model projects for their work against racism, anti-Semitism and extremism. In its current form, the federal funding program divides civil society into competitors for the few project funds, according to the signatories.

Background: In the past five years, “Live Democracy!” Has funded around 400 model projects. Now only around 100 of these innovative projects are to be funded. A large number of civil society organizations are now unable to apply for funding. Some of them have been working in their field since the mid-2000s, and the loss of funds is threatening the very existence of many. The undersigned criticize: “We believe that the ministry is robbing itself of one of its greatest success stories right now. We need more civil society, more commitment, more competence, more transfer of experience, more encouragement for minority groups - and not less. "

According to the undersigned, the cancellations are in blatant contradiction to current challenges such as right-wing extremist terror. Ferda Ataman from the “New German Organizations” says: “Right now federal politics cannot save on promoting democracy, it has never been more necessary than it is now. It is also cheaper to invest in social policy than having to constantly increase security measures. "

The Kreuzberg initiative against anti-Semitism is also massively affected by the cuts. For over 15 years she has been developing concepts for current manifestations of anti-Semitism, especially for work in Muslim-socialized milieus. Director Aycan Demirel warns: "We have to stop many of our projects, including the important groundwork in mosque communities."

Minister Giffey had restructured the funding program, municipal projects can receive more money in the future - but at the expense of the model projects. "The problem is not the strengthening of communal engagement, but the reduction in civil society sponsors and the divisive effect of the current program policy," says Katharina Debus von Dissens - Institute for Education and Research. The association has been implementing educational projects on gender and discrimination for 30 years, including gender-reflective right-wing extremism prevention, and is existentially threatened by current politics. Debus demands: “The civil society organizations must be independent of the political cycles in the municipalities.” Timo Reinfrank from the Amadeu Antonio Foundation adds: “We are counting on the budget politicians in the adjustment meeting on November 14th, the funds for the federal program 'Democracy Life!' significantly increase. "

In addition, the signatories call for long-term structural funding for proven and successful sponsors, a transparent system for evaluating and deciding on funding commitments, and an advisory board made up of sponsoring organizations that can influence future program design.

Link to the open letter: www.demokratie-mobilisiert.de

Hintergrund:

“Live Democracy!” Is the central federal program for combating extremism and promoting democracy, based at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs. The first funding period of the program began in 2015 and ends in 2019. This year the program has a budget of 115,5 million euros. The planned cuts for 2020 were - after initial criticism from the sponsors - withdrawn at the beginning of October, the program now has another 115 million euros available - but only for the coming year. In the future, the budget is to be reduced.

Franziska Giffey's predecessor Manuela Schwesig (SPD) had already spoken out in favor of a law for permanent promotion, the so-called Democracy Promotion Act. According to the SPD, the Union parties are blocking the introduction of the law.

https://www.demokratie-leben.de/bundesprogramm/ueber-demokratie-leben.html

https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/aktuelles/presse/pressemitteilungen/ueber-115-mio–euro-fuer–demokratie-leben—im-jahr-2020/139914