Up to 14 percent: increase in discrimination complaints in Germany
Ferda Ataman, head of the Federal Office against Discrimination, announced the 2022 discrimination report at a press conference in the capital Berlin.
Ataman pointed out that there are laws regarding the equal treatment of people in many countries in Europe, and according to the Equal Treatment Act (AGG) in Germany, for reasons such as age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion , worldview, race. and antisemitism, he explained that discrimination is prohibited.
Noting that, as the Federal Anti-Discrimination Office, they receive complaints from those who have been discriminated against and provide consulting services, Ataman said, “Never have as many people applied to the Federal Anti-Discrimination Office as they did last year.” saying.
RACISM IS ON THE RISE
Sharing the information that 8,827 complaints were made in 2022, Ataman said, “Consequently, complaints increased by 14 percent compared to a year ago (2021) and more than doubled compared to 2019.” he said.
Ataman said he received the highest number of complaints with 43 percent about racial discrimination.
Ataman stated that 27 percent of the complaints are about people with disabilities, 21 percent are related to gender, 10 percent are age-related, and 6 percent are discrimination related to religion and worldview.
Emphasizing that they have received many complaints about discrimination in government offices, schools, the judiciary or the police, Ataman said: “This is unacceptable and undermines trust in the state. That is why we want AGG to be reformed”. he used the phrase.
EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORT…
Within the scope of the Equal Treatment Law, 2,882 of the 6,627 complaints evaluated last year were discrimination based on ethnic origin, 1,815 based on disability, 1,395 based on gender, 650 based on age, and 435 based on religious beliefs and worldview.
Although 27 percent of the discrimination complaints are related to problems experienced in the labor market, it is followed by “access to services and products” with 20 percent, education with 7 percent, housing with 5 percent, health and care with 4 percent and the media. They are followed by complaints on the internet, the internet and the press with 3 percent.
The Federal Office against Discrimination received 1,039 complaints in government offices and 336 complaints about discrimination in the police and the judiciary. However, these complaints were not evaluated at the AGG level. (AA)