a strong alliance of women and peace developed around the movement for nuclear disarmament frauenfriedensbewegung another important alliance was forged around the decriminalization of homosexuality in the german democratic republic former east germany gdr the political scenario was a different one the state formally supported women in the workplace and provided childcare as well as economic incentives maternity leave and other provisions supporting pregnant womenmothers while this did not change preconceived notions about motherhood and childcare being a primarily female task under german law abortion is a criminal offense but is not punished if the pregnant woman accepts counselling prior to the abortion procedure and within the first trimester cf in the gdr model an authoritarian productivist regime womens employment was mandatory as was the creche for very young children the labour force participation rate at per cent in was the highest in the world bundesministerium fur familie senioren frauen und jugendliche federal ministry for family affairs senior citizens women and youth p