1️⃣3️⃣ Germany Moves to Criminalize Deepfakes, Berlin Airport Strike, Racism Study + Weekly Events & IWB Highlights
Hello again, IWBies! 💜
Spring is slowly showing up in Berlin… can you feel it? 🌸 The days are getting longer, the light hits differently, and there’s that quiet feeling that something new is around the corner.
This week brought a mix that really matters for us: Germany finally moving to criminalize deepfakes (a win for women online 👀), a racism study that’s uncomfortable but necessary, and a brand new cheap train to Amsterdam that just launched. Oh, and the airport went on strike. Very Berlin of us. 😅
Just a reminder that we’re a small group of immigrant women doing this voluntarily every week, curating news, events, housing offers and community highlights to keep our 40k+ women connected, informed and empowered here in Germany. Your support really helps us continue. 💖
With love,
Sabrina & your IWB team
As immigrants, it’s important to stay informed about what’s happening in Germany. Here are the most important news updates you should be aware of:
🚆 GoVolta launches direct train Berlin to Amsterdam from €10: runs Tue/Thu/Sun. Weekend trip just got a lot more affordable.
🚫 Germany moves to criminalize sexualized deepfakes: up to 2 years in prison for perpetrators. A long overdue win for women’s digital safety.
😔 Study: racism has grown in Germany: 1 in 3 people hold racist views. Over 60% of Black people and Muslim women face regular discrimination.
🏛️ Largest ever study on racism in German authorities: “not a single authority free of racist discrimination”. The Interior Minister has yet to respond.
👶 55% think having children in Germany is unaffordable: does this resonate with you?
💍 Germany records its lowest marriage rate since 1950: the reasons are worth reading.
😊 Germany moves up five spots in the World Happiness Report: now among the top 20 happiest countries. We’ll take it!
✈️ BER Airport brought to a standstill by Verdi strike: 57,000 passengers affected. Always check before heading to the airport.
🚌 Public transport strikes spread across Germany: buses and trams disrupted across multiple states. S-Bahn kept running.
🛵 New rules for e-scooters and bikes cluttering Berlin pavements: Berlin is finally cracking down.
🌱🍔 New vegan burger joint in Berlin, and they want to meet YOU!
Love Burger Berlin just opened and they are happy to get to know our community! To welcome the first 20 IWB members through their doors, they’re offering a free house drink. Just mention IWB when you arrive 🥰 #partnership
✨Want to advertise with us?
Send us a message at internationalwomeninberlin@gmail.com
👉 Week from March 23rd to March 29th - Berlin is a city full with events to suit all tastes. Here are some highlights that we think you and your friends would enjoy:
⏰ Clocks go forward Sunday night! March 29 at 2am becomes 3am. One hour less sleep, but hello longer evenings.
🏃 Generali Berlin Half Marathon: Sunday, March 29 | Brandenburg Gate. Even if you’re not running, the city is stunning that day. Expo at Tempelhof Fri & Sat.
✍️ Writers Session: writing, editing & feedback: March 23
🎭 Chaos Royal: IMPROTANIA: March 23
⚡ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Movie2Menu Experience: March 23
🍸 Daily Martini Hour: March 23
👩💻 NLND Breakfast Club: Funding Women in DeepTech: March 24
🌈 Queer Dating at Curly Bar: FLINTA* non-monogamous Edition: March 24
💪 How to train for longevity as a woman: March 25
🥂 Ladies Social Hour @ Jane & the Jam: March 25
🎧 Walk on AiR Festival 2026: March 26 to 28 | Acker Stadt Palast. Artists in residence open their rehearsal stages. Free and wonderfully Berlin.
🎤 Lingua Erotica: “Gravity” Single Release Live @ Lark Berlin: March 26
💃 CONSAGRADA: music, friends and the dancefloor: March 26
💻 QueerNext Co-Working Day @ CIC: March 26
🕺 Pop & House on 2 Floors: Free Entry: March 27
📸 Street Photography Workshop in Berlin: March 28
🎪 The Sublime Kabarett: Circus Artistry, Drag & Comedy im THE KNAST: March 28
🕉️ Chaitra Navratri Berlin Garba 2026: March 28, 4pm | Tegeler Seeterrassen. Traditional Garba celebrations, live music, community
🖤 Bats and Sass: Gothic Pole Dance by Heretic Dream: March 29
🧶 Crochet Sunday Club @ DNA Café & Art Berlin: March 29
🤝 Improv Meet Up @ DNA Art House Berlin: March 29
🔥 Make Poetry Sexy Again: March 29
IWB, with +40k members, is a very active community. Given that you might not have time to catch up on everything and some good posts may get overlooked, here are a few highlights from our group, from the last week:
🩸 “Menstrual cup recommendations”: the community delivered, as always!
💌 “I find it very hard to be direct when I don’t want to continue a friendship”: so relatable, and the comments are full of wisdom.
😔 “Starting to feel not good enough, stuck no matter how hard I try”: a vulnerable and important post. Go show some love 💜
🍴 “Female-owned restaurants in Berlin”: incredible list building up in the comments.
🔎 “Is anyone else in Berlin struggling to build meaningful friendships with women?”: you are not alone. One of this week’s most resonant posts.
❤️ “Couples therapy: mixed ability relationship”: thoughtful and supportive thread.
😮💨 “Expecting mom feeling overwhelmed by pregnancy bureaucracy in Germany”: if you’ve been through this, your experience could really help her.
We’re a small team of immigrant women (mostly women of color) doing this voluntarily, every week, to support this amazing community. As we grow, so do our invisible tasks to keep IWB running. As a community member, your help means everything. 💖 We aim to keep IWB free, independent, helpful and inclusive, while paying immigrant women fairly for their work. Help us in this mission, starting with ✨ONLY✨ 1€:
You’ll also get access to cool perks like anonymous posting, Telegram groups, discounts, and even free entry to IWB events (depending on your tier)!
And hey, if you love IWB, share this newsletter with a friend who might too. 💌
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Wishing you a fantastic week ahead! 💖
Warm regards from the IWB Team