The Berlin state government has announced that women will be allowed to swim topless in the city’s public pools.
The decision was made in response to a discrimination case filed by a woman who was not permitted to swim topless in a swimming facility in the capital.
According to the Berlin Senate for Justice, Diversity, and Anti-Discrimination, the woman resorted to the ombudsperson’s office for equal treatment to demand that women, like males, be able to swim topless.
The Berliner Baederbetriebe, which manages the city’s public pools, decided to amend its attire guidelines in response to the complaint and the ombudsman’s involvement in the matter, according to the Senate.
Ombudsman chief Doris Liebscher said: ‘The ombudsperson’s office very much welcomes the decision of the Baederbetriebe, because it establishes equal rights for all.
Berliners, whether male, female or non-binary, and because it also creates legal certainty for the staff at the Baederbetriebe.’
She added: ‘Now it is important that the regulation is applied consistently and that no more expulsions or house bans are issued.’
In the past, women who bared their breasts at Berlin pools were asked to cover themselves or to leave the pool and were sometimes banned from returning.