born: 1960
land list: North Rhine-Westphalia

Office in Berlin
T: +49 30 / 227 - 71511
F: +49 30 / 227 - 76880
volker.beck@bundestag.de

First Parliamentary Whip
Spokesperson on human rights policy

My political career is rooted in the peace movement and in the struggle for the rights of minorities. Civil und human rights, a strong constitutional state and a lively democracy are the central themes of my political activities. One of the most memorable days in my political life was August 1, 2001, when a big step towards the legal equalisation of gays and lesbians in Germany was taken, as the so-called "registered partnership" (a civil union) came into effect on that day.

During the 15th legislative period of the German Bundestag I fought for a number of important projects aiming to modernise society, e.g. an anti-discrimination law, a freedom of information law and modern immigration legislation.

My work can be stressful at times, but altogether it is a highly interesting and responsible job which can also be a lot of fun.

Committees

• Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid (sp. + m.)

• Committee for Electoral Scrutiny, Immunity and Procedural Rules (sp. + m.)

• Committee on Internal Affairs (alt. m.)

Political CV

• Member of the Green Party since 1985

• Advisor on gay and lesbian issues for the Green parliamentary group in the Bundestag (1987-1990)

• Member of the German Bundestag (since 1994)

• Coordinator for the Working Group III of the parliamentary group executive (1998-2002) and speaker on legal policy and law of the parliamentary group (1994-2002)

• Member of the Green Party Advisory Council

• Chairperson of the Hessian council hardship fund for the compensation of persecution under National Socialism

• Chairperson of the German Gay and Lesbian Association (LSVD) (1991-2004)

• Member of the steering committee of the International Network of Lesbian and Gay officials (INLGO)

• Member of the Board of Trustees of the federal foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future"

• Further Memberships:
  AIDS Relief Cologne, member of the Advisory Council of the Working Group of the Victims Relief Organisations in Germany, member of the Advisory Council of the Center for Information and Documentation for Anti-Racism Activities, member of the Board of Trustees of the German Holocaust Museum in Berlin, member of the Humanist Union, member of the Federal Association for Information and Advice for Persecutees of National Socialism

• Chief whip of the parliamentary group (since 2002)