A total of 16 websites have been presented with a BIENE award by the campaign Aktion Mensch and the foundation Stiftung Digitale Chancen in the final of their barrier-free internet competition (BIENE [= bee] stands for “Barrierefreies Internet eröffnet neue Einsichten” [= Barrier-free internet opening up new insights]).

The Bundesbank’s website is the only award-winner among the German Federal public authorities [1], receiving a silver BIENE in the “E-Government / E-Democracy” category. Four participants were awarded a gold BIENE and seven participants received a bronze BIENE.

The awards were preceded by extensive testing of the more than 320 websites submitted for the BIENE awards. The final decision was taken by a jury consisting of prominent members of the media and opinion formers.

Information (in German) on barrier-freedom and the BIENE awards may be found at the website of the BIENE award as well as at the press portal of Aktion Mensch.

Footnotes:

1. In accordance with the terms of the Barrier-free Information Technology Regulation (BITV), the public sector Federal authorities in Germany are required to make their websites barrier-free by 31 December 2005.