Prof. Rita SUESSMUTH, Dr. Dr. h.c.mult.

Prof. Rita Süssmuth is former President of the German Federal Parliament and a former Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Women, Youth and Health.

Prof. Süssmuth is currently Chair of the Independent Council of Experts on Immigration and Integration, appointed by the German Government.  She is also a member of the Steering Committee, “Intercultural Conflict and Societal Integration” at the Social Science Research Center Berlin and holds a series of other assignments and memberships with other national and international bodies.  In 2000 and 2001 Prof. Süssmuth presided over the ‚Independent Commission on Migration to Germany’ which resulted in the July 2001 report on ‚Steering Migration and Fostering Integration’. 

Prof. Süssmuth has a long distinguised political, and academic career, and held several senior positions including Vice President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and Member of the German Federal Parliament. She has also been Director of the Research Institute "Woman and Society" and Professor, International Comparative Educational Science, Universities of Bochum and Dortmund.

Prof. Rita Süssmuth is a German citizen.