Five years of anti-discrimination: 1,785 complaints in Berlin!

Five years of anti-discrimination: 1,785 complaints in Berlin!

The Berlin Anti-Discrimination Act, a groundbreaking Senate project, came into force on June 21, 2020 and has made a lot of difference since then. According to the Borken newspaper Since then, around 1,785 discrimination complaints have been received by the newly established ombudsman office, which began its work in September 2020. On average, that means about one complaint per day - a clear sign that discrimination in Berlin is anything but a marginal phenomenon.

One of the main issues that has come to light is racial discrimination. In 2024 alone, 162 such cases were registered. But the focus is not only on racial disadvantages. Complaints about disability or chronic illness (114 cases), gender identity (56 cases) and social status (43 cases) also demonstrate the diversity of the problem. Educational institutions and authorities are often in the crossfire of criticism: Berlin Senate reports that most complaints were made against district offices (382) and schools and daycare centers (210), while the police were criticized 191 times.

A better error culture required

Doris Liebscher, head of the ombudsman's office, emphasizes the need for change in administration and speaks of the urgent need to understand discrimination as a problem in many areas of life. “We need a positive error culture in the administration,” says Social Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD), who underlines the need for a more open way of dealing with complaints. One particularly notable case was that of a woman who sat topless at a water playground and was ultimately asked to leave by police officers. She was ultimately awarded compensation of 750 euros for this discrimination.

But the Berlin anti-discrimination law is more than just a reaction instrument. It aims to promote a culture that values ​​diversity. Since it came into force, it has included an expanded catalog of protective features, including social and health aspects, thereby creating a real legal right for those affected. Collective legal protection instruments make it possible to take action against discrimination not only individually, but also structurally.

A signal for society as a whole

While the law in Berlin is making progress, the view of the Federal Republic of Germany regarding discrimination is rather mixed. According to the Statista In 2023, around 16.2 percent of Germans had xenophobic views, which makes it clear that the topic is actually very popular. In the same year, the federal anti-discrimination agency recorded a record high of around 10,800 reports, which shows that the population's sensitivity to experiences of discrimination is growing.

It remains to be seen how the social and legal landscape will develop in the coming years. The fight against discrimination is a long-term undertaking, but one that is gaining momentum through laws like the LADG in Berlin.