The Charta der Vielfalt (diversity charter) is a corporate initiative to promote diversity in companies and institutions. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel is the initiative’s patron. The Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Annette Widmann-Mauz, supports the initiative.
The initiative aims to promote the recognition, appreciation and integration of diversity into Germany’s business culture. Organisations are to create a working environment free of prejudice. All employees should be valued – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.
The Charta der Vielfalt was initiated in December 2006 by four multinationals. Since then, more than 2,950 companies and public institutions have signed the charter and new signatories are being added on a continual basis.
10 years of the Diversity Charter is a good time to take stock, with regard to the question: What role does diversity play in your company? 2016 we published our study "Diversity in Germany" with answers from 349 of our signatories and 250 randomly selected companies that have not yet signed up the Diversity Charter. The study allows basic conclusions to be drawn about the way companies and organisations approach diversity management.
Since 2010, the sponsor of the initiative has been the non-profit association Charta der Vielfalt e.V. Here you will find more information about the association.
The Charta der Vielfalt shapes the substantive discourse around diversity management in Germany with various projects:
- The Charta der Vielfalt e.V. is the initiator of Germany’s Diversity Day, which has taken place this year for the sixth time on 5 June 2018. On this day of action, companies and institutions publicised their commitment to diversity. More than 2,000 actions were carried out by more than 600 organisations. Save the date for Germany's Seventh Diversity Day on 28 May 2019!
- Once a year, the DIVERSITY Conference offers an exchange and networking among specialists, practitioners and interested parties. The next conference will take place on 22-23 November 2018.
As of autumn 2017, the German Charter of Diversity launched the nationwide competition DIVERSITY CHALLENGE for young apprentices, trainees and employees. Young people are invited to submit their ideas and projects on how to reinforce diversity management within their companies and organisations. Through nationwide workshops and via an online platform, participants receive broad support while developing their ideas and implementing their projects. The project is part of the federal programme „Demokratie leben!“ (Living Democracy) and receives funding by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
