Seven equal opportunities officers from Eastern Thuringia met in Gera to exchange ideas. They belong to the Eastern Thuringia group of the Thuringian State Working Group (LAG) of Municipal Equal Opportunities Officers. They represent four districts, nine towns and municipal associations between Altenburger Land and Saale-Holzland-Kreis

The invitation to Gera was extended by the Gera representative Catrin Heinrich. Guests in Gera included Dr. Kerstin Haupt from Jena, the spokesperson for the East Thuringia group, as well as the JCCs from Altenburger Land (Carina Michalsky), Eisenberg (Nicole Heider), Greiz (Diana Kopp), Nobitz (Gabriele Hertzsch) and Saale-Holzland (Silva Fricke).
During the meeting, Gera's Lord Mayor Julian Vonarb welcomed the equal opportunities officers: "You are supposed to make the world a little better, fairer and more equal - but you don't always receive widespread support. I would like to encourage you in your work for tolerance and diversity." For Julian Vonarb, equal treatment also plays an important role for the economy, which needs an environment in which skilled workers feel comfortable because different lifestyles and identities are taken for granted.

The Gender Equality Officers (GBA) also visited the Domestic Violence Intervention Center in Gera. The team with Kathrin Engel, Kathrin Nordhaus and Peggy Bergmann looks after large parts of the area covered by the equal opportunities officers and beyond to southern Thuringia, with over 200 cases of domestic violence every year. Kathrin Nordhaus explained: "We make contact with victims after a police operation and determine what should be done in each specific case. Quick contact is crucial. Because there are emergency situations in which the victim is still in great danger". The intervention center provides access to an extensive network of medical, legal and financial help, for example. Of the known cases, 80 percent of the victims are women. Children are also often directly and indirectly affected.

The topic of violence prevention and help for those affected by violence was also addressed by the GBA after the visit to the intervention center. Dr. Kerstin Haupt presented the results of a study on the existing support structures for domestic violence in Jena and derived recommendations for action. In doing so, Jena has already addressed what many cities are currently questioning: how well are we positioned to prevent domestic violence and to help those affected when it occurs?
By ratifying the Istanbul Convention in February 2018, Germany committed to providing protection and assistance to victims of domestic violence and other forms of violence at all levels of government. Catrin Heinrich informed the audience that the Network against Domestic Violence in Gera is preparing a symposium on the implementation of this convention in Gera together with the Youth and Social Affairs Department
The equal opportunities commissioners will meet again in the fall to discuss possible joint activities to pool their sometimes limited resources and achieve greater regional impact than if each were to act on their own.