Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth facts for kids
| Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend | |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1953 as the „Federal Ministry for Family Questions“ |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Germany |
| Headquarters | Berlin |
| Minister responsible |
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| Website | www.bmfsfj.de/ |
The Federal Ministry of Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (which in German is Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend), often called the BMFSFJ for short, is an important part of the German government. It's like a special department that works to make life better for families, older people, women, and young people across the country.
Even though its main office is in Berlin, many people who work for the ministry are in Bonn. This ministry keeps an eye on what other government departments do. It also offers special help and programs for the groups it supports.
What the Ministry Does
The BMFSFJ focuses on many different areas to help people. It works on things like:
- Supporting families and making sure they have what they need.
- Helping older people stay active and healthy.
- Making sure women have equal chances and rights.
- Creating good opportunities for young people to learn and grow.
This ministry makes sure that everyone in Germany, no matter their age or background, gets the support they need to live well.
How the Ministry Changed Over Time
The Ministry of Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth has changed its name and focus many times since it started. Here's a quick look at its journey:
- 1953: It began as the "Federal Ministry for Family Questions." Its main job was to help families.
- 1957: The name changed to include young people, becoming the "Federal Ministry for Family and Youth Questions."
- 1969: The ministry grew even more when it also took on health issues. It was then called the "Federal Ministry of Youth, Family and Health."
- 1986: Women's issues became a bigger focus, and the name changed to the "Federal Ministry of Youth, Family, Women and Health."
- 1991: For a short time, the ministry split into three separate parts: one for health, one for women and youth, and one for family and senior citizens.
- 1994: The parts came back together to form the ministry we know today: the "Federal Ministry of Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth." This shows how important it is to support all these groups together.
Important Leaders of the Ministry
The person in charge of the ministry is called the Federal Minister. Many different people have led this important ministry over the years. They are like the head of a big team, making decisions and guiding the work.
Here are some of the people who have been the Federal Minister for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, or its earlier versions:
- Franz-Josef Wuermeling (1953-1962) was the very first minister when it was just about family questions.
- Käte Strobel (1969-1972) was one of the first women to lead the ministry when it also included health.
- Angela Merkel (1991-1994) was the Federal Minister for Women and Youth when the ministry was split into different parts. She later became the Chancellor of Germany!
- Ursula von der Leyen (2005-2009) also led this ministry before becoming the Minister of Defence and then the President of the European Commission.
- Katarina Barley has been the Federal Minister since 2017. She continues to work on improving life for families, older people, women, and young people in Germany.
