In a recent conference of youth and family ministers, a strong emphasis was placed on strengthening democratic youth work in Germany. The gathering of ministers, held in Hamburg on May 22 and 23, addressed a crucial topic: the handling of the neutrality principle in youth work.
The conference acknowledged that youth work does not need to be neutral in the face of political ideologies that contravene the fundamental rights enshrined in the German constitution. Saxony’s Social Minister, Petra Köpping, emphasized that neutrality, as defined by the constitution, means impartiality, not value-neutrality or a lack of position. “Positions and statements outside of democratic values must be clearly identified and addressed by youth work providers and professionals” she said. As a result, youth work can never be entirely neutral, but is instead based on the values of the constitution and democratic principles.
Another key topic of the conference was the alleviation of the burden on local authorities in accommodating and caring for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers. The ministers agreed that this remains a significant challenge, requiring legislative adjustments, such as the simplification of age verification and the establishment of deadlines for decision-making. Furthermore, the federal government should take a more active role in covering the costs of accommodation and enable lump-sum settlements.