The German Federal Justice Minister, Stefanie Hubig, has announced intensified efforts to combat instances of what are being termed “sham fatherhoods” a practice increasingly recognized as a potential loophole for residency permits. Speaking to “Welt am Sonntag” Minister Hubig stated that conversations reveal the issue represents a genuine problem in several cities. She explained that some men are deliberately acknowledging the parentage of children born to other women, primarily to facilitate their own and the mother’s residency in Germany.
Hubig characterized some of these acknowledgements as having become a “business model” and affirmed the government’s commitment, outlined in its coalition agreement, to preventing such abuses.
Alongside this focus, the Minister detailed plans to criminalize verbal sexual harassment. She clarified that the legislation would target instances of severe verbal abuse, distinguishing it from unintentional or poorly phrased compliments. The target is “verbal violence” that individuals should not have to endure; it specifically aims to sanction vulgar and harsh shouting that causes significant distress to the recipients. The legislation will differentiate between unacceptable conduct and breaches of decorum that do not warrant legal sanction, explicitly stating that casual catcalling will not be pursued through criminal prosecution.
Minister Hubig also advocated for legal reforms to facilitate co-parenting for lesbian couples. She acknowledged the need for modernization within family law to align with current societal realities. Specifically, she expressed support for revisions to inheritance law to eliminate the current requirement that one partner in a same-sex couple must adopt a child born to the other. This current system, she argued, is outdated and counter to principles of fairness, even when the biological father does not claim parental responsibility.