Bayern board member Michael Diederich takes a stand

FC Bayern and its deputy CEO Michael Diederich are part of an initiative by the Paritätischer Gesamtverband to raise awareness of the taboo subject of domestic violence against women in a joint video on social media. Under the slogan ‘What are we waiting for?’, figures from business, culture, sport and society take a clear stance.

“Those affected by domestic violence need protection and support,” says Diederich. “Together with the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, we at FC Bayern once again want to raise awareness of this taboo topic in society. We are also always concerned with empowering and supporting women. Among other things, we have therefore launched our EmpowerHer mentoring programme within FC Bayern. We want to make a difference both internally and externally and continuously work to improve equal opportunities.”

On 25 November, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the club will once again light up the Allianz Arena in the colour orange to support the ‘Zonta says No’ initiative. Herbert Hainer has been involved with lending support on this day for years, and a few weeks ago the club president also took part as a guest speaker and participant in a panel discussion at the annual meeting of the Zonta women's movement. Hainer explained the long success story of women's football at FC Bayern and emphasised the social impact of the players: “These women are absolute role models, far beyond the pitch. They show that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and stick to your path. They are an incredible inspiration, for all of us.”

The women's department is now managed as a separate directorate, with a woman still at the helm in Bianca Rech, who succeeded Karin Danner, explained the president. Looking at the club’s advisory board, four of the 10 members in deputy chairwoman Alexandra Schörghuber, Dorothee Bär, Hildegard Müller and Dr Marion Kiechle are women “who contribute a valuable perspective to our club”. Furthermore, the club has not only initiated the EmpowerHer mentoring programme through Diederich, in which female players are prepared for careers after their playing career by FC Bayern partners, but has also developed an awareness concept for its venues such as the Allianz Arena and BMW Park with OBACHT, which will also be implemented at the Annual General Meeting on 8 December (Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, starting at 10.30am). The club is also regularly involved in campaigns for breast cancer prevention, for example with a special pink illumination of the Allianz Arena or special jerseys for the women's team.

The Paritätische Gesamtverband, whose topics range from daycare centres and education providers to care facilities, self-help groups and workshops for people with disabilities to disaster and climate protection, would like to use this video to draw attention to the fact that every second day in Germany, a woman dies at the hands of her (ex)partner. According to the association, this violence happens everywhere - in the neighbourhood, among friends, within families. Although the statistics on violence are increasing year on year, there is a shortage of thousands of places in Germany's women's shelters. In addition, advice centres are chronically overloaded and the waiting times for a place in a women's shelter or an appointment for counselling for people who have been raped are extremely long.

FC Bayern was also represented with its Red against Racism initiative for diversity and against exclusion of any kind at the 100th anniversary of Der Paritätische Bayern at the celebrations in the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche in Munich.