Christa Frenzel, the city's first head of department, and equal opportunities officer Simone Semmler then spoke about the current situation in the administration and the city.

Beforehand, Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel welcomed the women's organizations and associations in Salzgitter, which presented their projects on the display walls in the atrium of the town hall to give an insight into their diverse work. On International Women's Day, he wanted to explore the question of equal rights in the city and the state. The Lord Mayor pointed out that women have only been able to vote since 1918 and have only been allowed to work without their husband's consent since 1977. "Women have achieved a lot for themselves and for social change in recent decades," emphasized Klingebiel.

It was thanks to committed women that they stood up for equality and equal rights. "Active women in administration and politics fought for the concerns of female colleagues and employees," said Klingebiel.

That is why the first women's office in the city of Salzgitter was set up with a typewriter on January 4, 1988. Ute von Wrangell was the first women's representative to set the tone here: "She stepped up the pace in the administration to fight against discrimination and for equal opportunities for women. She developed the women's advancement plan and also established contacts with women's associations, women's groups, institutions and individual women outside the city administration. She fought for a better work-life balance." She also published numerous brochures, such as the women's handbook. Ute von Wrangell campaigned for single parents and part-time work.

The subsequent women's representatives also had to make their voices heard: Birgit Bostelmann, Andrea Götte, deputy Sylvia Fiedler and the current Equal Opportunities Officer Simone Semmler did this impressively.

Frank Klingebiel emphasized that a lot has been achieved in the past 25 years, but that there should be no resting on the laurels. He referred to current issues in the private sector, such as the difference in pay between women and men or women in management positions. In the administration, payment is regulated by collective agreements. There are also various opportunities to return to work after taking a break to have children. With the "Chefinnen Salzgitter" project, the city of Salzgitter is working to get more women into management positions in Salzgitter. With Christa Frenzel, the city of Salzgitter has a female department head for the first time. That was unthinkable in 1988.

Ute von Wrangell also confirmed this. The first women's representative of the city of Salzgitter made it clear that although equality was enshrined in the Basic Law, it was still not a reality. "That's why we have the Equal Opportunities Officer, who has to campaign for it," said Ute von Wrangell. In 1988, she built up a network, coordinated, organized exhibitions, published brochures, offered seminars and drew attention to current issues, including women and work as well as mini-jobs. "Working hours, money and power are not yet equally distributed," said Ute von Wrangell. This is just as topical as the issue of achieving a better work-life balance.

Head of department Christa Frenzel confirmed this and emphasized that a lot is being done in Salzgitter to achieve this compatibility. This applies to the opening hours of the kindergartens as well as the quality. The head of department referred to language support in nurseries as well as the fact that there are no fees. "No other city in Lower Saxony has these different framework conditions," said Christa Frenzel.

Simone Semmler, the Equal Opportunities Officer, wants to continue on this path of improving the compatibility of women and family, whereby the better compatibility of men and family is just as important in her work. She also wants to expand the network of women and for women in Salzgitter and offer events on current topics: In the fall, specialist conferences are planned on the topics of "Gainful employment for women" and "Women and right-wing radicalism".

The guests used the subsequent celebration to talk and exchange information. The city of Salzgitter and 16 associations presented an exhibition on the history, present and future of equal rights in Salzgitter.