Yearly Update: Discrimination Report 2024
Excess of Consultants: Maximum Limit Exceeded
Berlin (dpa) - Last year marked a disheartening record for the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, with more instances of discrimination reported than ever before. According to the commissioner, Ferda Ataman, a staggering 11,400 people reached out for assistance in 2024 – an increase from 10,800 in 2023 and a whopping double from the 4,200 inquiries made in 2019.
Ataman elaborated, "This is the highest number the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency has ever seen." To put it into perspective, she highlighted that the number of inquiries has significantly surged since 2019, a time before the pandemic.
The Face of Discrimination: Racism
Of the over 11,000 cases, 43% were related to instances of racism. Ataman provided an alarming example of a man named Mahmoud who, despite his months-long search for an apartment in Wuppertal, was refused viewings. In stark contrast, his friend, Stefan, with a German name, was immediately offered a viewing for the same apartment. Mahmoud was conveniently informed that the apartment was already taken.
Discrimination based on disabilities or chronic illnesses constituted 27% of the inquiries, while 24% were due to gender or gender identity issues. Ataman underscored the increasing instances of gender-based discrimination that women are facing.
The Workplace Remains a Trouble Spot
Discrimination experiences were found to be most prevalent in the workplace, accounting for 33% of the cases. This included job searches and daily work-related situations.
Calling for Legal Reform
More than 1,200 people reported instances of discrimination by state institutions, such as offices, authorities, and the police. However, these cases fall outside the scope of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), rendering them without adequate legal protection, Ataman noted. She advocates for reforming the AGG to extend its coverage to state institutions.
As of now, slightly over 9,000 cases fall within the purview of the AGG, while the remaining cases, unfortunately, do not receive the same legal protection offered by this law. "Not every unequal treatment is prohibited here," Ataman explained.
Citizenship: The Missing Piece
Although the AGG prohibits discrimination based on age, disability, gender, religion, sexual identity, and "race" or "ethnic origin," its coverage does not extend to discrimination based on citizenship. Advocates like Ataman have long been pushing for an expansion of the law to include citizenship as a protected characteristic.
The Wider Implications
The ongoing lack of protection against discrimination in state institutions leaves individuals vulnerable to unequal treatment that can have severe consequences on their rights and well-being. Moreover, discrimination can disrupt the economy and undermine democratic stability by eroding trust and social cohesion.
Reform initiatives should focus on amending the Non-Discrimination Act to explicitly include state institutions. This would involve awareness-raising campaigns, advocacy efforts, and international collaboration to create laws effective in addressing discrimination by state institutions. Knowledge sharing with other countries and organizations can provide valuable insights on best practices in combating discrimination across all sectors.
- The surge in cases handled by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency in 2024, with a record-breaking 11,400 inquiries, highlights the need for policy-and-legislation revisions and increased political attention to address the recurring issue of general-news-related discrimination.
- Advocating for legal reform, commissioner Ferda Ataman calls for the expansion of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) to include state institutions in its coverage, aiming to protect citizens from discrimination based on their citizenship, a characteristic currently unprotected by the existing law.
