The Berlin state government in an order passed on Thursday has allowed all women to go topless at the city’s public swimming pools, like men, reported news agency Associated Press.
The new bathing rule of allowing everyone to go swimming without covering their torsos was announced after a woman complained that she was not allowed to go topless in a public swimming pool in the capital.
The woman, whose identity has not been revealed had approached the senate’s ombudsperson’s office to demand that women, like men, can swim topless, said the the Berlin senate for justice, diversity and anti-discrimination said in a written statement, reported AP.
A second woman said she was told to cover up while at an indoor pool in December.
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Acting on the complaint, the Berliner Baederbetriebe, which runs the city’s public pools, decided to change its clothing rules, the statement further read.
"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," said Doris Liebscher, the head of the ombudsperson’s office, reported AP.
Earlier, women who went swimming at Berlin pools topless were asked to cover themselves or to leave the pool. On few occasions they were also banned from returning.
“Now it is important that the regulation is applied consistently and that no more expulsions or house bans are issued,” Liebscher said, as reported by AP.
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However, it not clear as to when the new rules will come into effect in the city's public swimming pools.
Germany has considers public nudity in some settings to be both appropriate and healthy.