Laws Relevant to Children and Young People in Germany > Index H-X > Alternative Civilian Service Act

Alternative Civilian Service Act
Zivildienstgesetz (ZDG)

Act on the Alternative Civilian Service of Conscientious Objectors (Alternative Civilian Service Act – Gesetz über den Zivildienst der Kriegsdienstverweigerer/Zivildienstgesetz, ZDG) of 17 May 2005, last amended on 31 October 2006

The Act on the Alternative Civilian Service of Conscientious Objectors (Zivildienstgesetz, ZDG) of 17 May 2005, last amended on 31 October 2006, stipulates that recognised conscientious objectors in the alternative civilian service perform tasks – mainly in the social sector – that are for the general good. Furthermore, based on the Act of 1973, the Federal Office for the Alternative Civilian Service (Bundesamt für den Zivildienst) has been established as a supreme federal office within the competence of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend). Furthermore, since 1970, a federal commissioner has been appointed by nomination of the Federal Government for the alternative civilian service.

An advisory board for the alternative civilian service advises the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend). It is composed of representatives of conscientious objectors and organisations for those performing their alternative civilian service (three of these must be performers of alternative civilian service), representatives and associations of recognised employers, representatives of the two big churches in Germany, the trade unions, the employer associations, as well as the Federal Länder and the communal umbrella associations.

Suitability for alternative civilian service is defined by suitability for military service. Those who are capable of rendering military service are regarded as capable of rendering alternative civilian service, those who are temporarily incapable of rendering military service as temporarily incapable of rendering alternative civilian service, and those who are not capable of rendering military service as not capable of rendering alternative civilian service. The alternative civilian service relationship commences at the time that is defined in the conscription notification as the beginning of service of the person obliged to perform the service.

Recognised conscientious objectors do not have to perform alternative civilian service

  • If they undertake to work for civil defence or the emergency services for a period of six years
  • If they undertake to work for a two-year development service
  • If they perform another service abroad for at least 11 months
  • If they undertake to perform a voluntary service in accordance with the Law on the Promotion of the Voluntary Social Service Year (Gesetz zur Förderung eines freiwilligen sozialen Jahres) or the Law on the Promotion of the Voluntary Ecological Service Year (Gesetz zur Förderung eines freiwilligen ökologischen Jahres)
  • If they work for the police enforcement service.
Up until the age of 30, recognised conscientious objectors are not called up for alternative civilian service if they have contractually agreed to render at least two-years’ development service for one of the agencies funding the development service within the framework of the requirements of this supporter who is recognised in accordance with section 2 of the Act on Development Workers Act (Entwicklungshelfer-Gesetz), appropriately take further education courses for their later job as a development aid worker and this is confirmed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung).
 
Recognised conscientious objectors are not called up for alternative civilian service if they have contractually agreed to render service abroad for a recognised funding agency before their 23rd birthday that promotes the peaceful cohabitation of peoples and that lasts at least two months longer than the alternative civilian service that they would have otherwise had to perform.
 
Furthermore, it is important for every person rendering alternative civilian service to have the opportunity to select his own alternative civilian service assignment. Thus, he can influence the type and location of his employment, as well as the time of his conscription.

Since 1 October 2004, young men have only had to perform nine months of alternative civilian service. The duration of the alternative civilian service was thus adjusted to match the duration of the basic military service in the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).
 
After the passing of the “Act on the Amendment of Act Law on the Promotion of the Voluntary Social Service Year and Other Act” (“Gesetz zur Änderung des Gesetzes zur Förderung eines freiwilligen sozialen Jahres und anderer Gesetze”) by the Bundestag on 27 May 2002, it was made easier for young people to undertake a voluntary assignment from 1 June 2002. Recognised conscientious objectors thus have the possibility to serve a Voluntary Social Service Year or a Voluntary Ecological Service Year instead of the alternative civilian service. The vital prerequisite for the recognition of these voluntary services as an equivalent to the alternative civilian service is that the status as a conscientious objector must have been recognised prior to performing the voluntary service.