The story behind it. - Zupke proposes improved assistance for SED victims.
Nearly 35 years after the fall of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), Evelyn Zupke, a victims' commissioner, believes that many individuals are still dealing with the lingering effects of repression in terms of both their health and finances. She made these comments during her annual report on Thursday.
As the victims' commissioner, Zupke explained that experiences of injustice and political violence in the GDR don't just disappear for victims, they continue to impact them even today. This impact is seen in the social situations of the victims as well as the often severely damaged health of many affected individuals.
During the GDR's reign, Zupke estimated that hundreds of thousands of people were subjected to political persecution, resulting in approximately 250,000 prisoners and up to 100,000 instances of former youth work camp inmates. A significant number of those persecuted have unfortunately passed away. Currently, approximately 38,000 people receive SED victim pensions, while an additional 20,000 receive other forms of assistance.
In the coalition agreement for the traffic light, enhancements are announced which Buschmann is now pushing for. However, Zupke feels that the proposed changes are not substantial enough. For instance, she advocates for easier disease recognition as a result of persecution, much like the recognition of illnesses in Bundeswehr soldiers after combat deployments. Furthermore, she laments the fact that the automatic yearly increase in victim's pensions known as the "dynamic increase" won't be implemented until mid-2025.
Zupke expects a €9 increase in monthly pensions by this date, a significant delay since the last adjustment. She stated: "The pensions for former Stasi officers have increased by more than 25% in the same time period, while the victim's pension has increased by only 3-4%." The German parliament should step in and boost victim's pensions before the dynamic increase.
