New Chairwoman of AGF: Bettina Müller-Sidibé
18.01.2011] The Association of Binational Families and Partnerships in 2011/12 took over the rotating chairmanship of AGF. The AGF heads into the new year with its new chairwoman, Bettina Müller-Sidibé.
The family associations, that are combined in the AGF met at the end of 2010, at its general assembly to discuss fundamental developments in family policy as well as the priorities in their own work. Board elections additionally came to the fore this year, with the term of chairwoman Edith Schwab ending in late 2010. In the AGF general leadership is assumed by the member associations in a two-year rotation. With the new year, the Association of Binational Families and Partnerships, iaf e.V. relieved the 2009 and 2010 acting general leader, the Federal Association of Single Mothers and Fathers (VAMV). The Chairwoman of the iaf, Bettina Müller-Sidibé, was unanimously elected new chairwoman of the AGF, its predecessor Edith Schwab, was elected as her deputy.
“In these two years we have intensivley interfered in the poverty debate with the result of a position paper on child poverty, mutually agreed with several organizations on european level. We have precicely expressed ourself on the issue of Hartz IV (unemployment and social benefit).” recognizes the outgoing chairwoman, Edith Schwab, “but a lot remains to be done, since the politic hasn’t done much about combating poverty. “
In 2009 and 2010 under the general leadership of the VAMV, a lot of important issues were risen up, which will still be of high importance in the future: Combating child poverty, cross-linkages within Europa, cutting VAT on children’s products. In cooperation with many organizations, AGF will start a compaign for the latter in 2011.
The new chairwoman, Bettina Müller-Sidibé confirmes the impressions of Mrs. Schwab and adds: “To further intensify the synergies, to work together on even more subjects than what have been worked on up until now and to especially integrate the life situation of binational and immigrated families, will be the target of our leadership.”
Thus from 2011 on, the subject of “Child Health and Consumer Rights” shall have an important meaning. Here we come across great uncertainties for parents and children again and again. Therefore the AGF wants to strengthen the knowledge and the reasoning powers of families. Other important fields are, among others, the reduced VAT rate, child poverty and networking on the European level.
Brief Portrait: The new lead Association of the AGF
The Association of Binational Families and Partnerships (iaf eV) with assumes the general leadership for the first time. The federal association is since 1972 the contact association for the concerns of couples and families who live a bi national/ bi-cultural life. It works nation-wide as a charitable organization in 25 cities in in 11 federal states in Germany. The Association is committed to the social and legal equality of people regardless of race or cultural background and advises women and men in all aspects of a binational relationship.
Brief portrait of the new chairwoman
The economist Bettina Müller-Sidibé originates from Baden-Württemberg and has made a name for herself especially in development programs in Africa, activities with different banks and as a writer. She is project manager since 1992 in varying areas of the “Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW)”. Since 2007 she has been national chair of the Association of Binational Families and Partnerships, iaf e.V.