THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Five years after Berlin enacted its groundbreaking anti-discrimination law targeting bias within public institutions, a new report reveals a steady stream of complaints, averaging nearly one per day, highlighting persistent structural discrimination, particularly racism, in areas such as local government offices and schools.
Since the law came into effect on 21 June 2020, the state Ombudsoffice established to handle such cases has recorded 1,785 formal discrimination complaints. In addition, more than 2,000 people have reached out for advice or information, according to the Berlin Senate’s Department for Social Affairs.
Racial discrimination continues to dominate the list of grievances. In 2024 alone, 162 cases involved allegations of racism, making it the most common reason for complaint. Other frequent concerns included discrimination based on disability or chronic illness (114 cases), followed by issues related to gender, gender identity and sexual orientation (56 cases). Incidents related to social background are reportedly on the rise as well, with 43 such cases documented in 2024. Other complaints referenced age, language and religion.
The highest number of complaints over the five-year period were lodged against district offices (382), followed by schools and kindergartens (210), and universities (85). The police were the subject of 191 complaints, while transport provider BVG, Berlin’s prison system and various Senate departments were also named.
Doris Liebscher, head of the Ombudsoffice, said the cases revealed “discrimination in all areas and forms”—including racial profiling by police or ticket inspectors, social stigmatization, and the exclusion of thousands of children with disabilities from schooling. She noted that the law has delivered tangible results for many complainants, ranging from apologies and compensation to changes in official forms and procedures.
Berlin’s Social Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) acknowledged that the law provides a legal basis for financial compensation but criticized the public sector’s reluctance to admit mistakes. “Unlike in the private sector, there is a stronger resistance in Berlin’s administration to acknowledge wrongdoing and learn from it. We need a public service that is more responsive to people’s needs, embraces a culture of accountability, and is willing to grow,” she stated.
As Berlin reflects on half a decade of this legal framework, the data suggests that while progress has been made, significant work remains to build a truly inclusive and discrimination-free public sector.
Vivian Asamoah
