Accessibility and racism in focus: Berlin anti-discrimination law leads to around 1,000 complaints
A good two years after the introduction of the Berlin Anti-Discrimination Act (LADG), around 1,000 complaints have been received. About 700 of them relate to accessibility and racism, the responsible ombudsman announced.
A large proportion of the complaints stem from incidents at district offices and schools. The police and the Senate Department for Health came third. The BVG ranks just behind. Many complaints about the lack of accessibility were directed at the Berlin transport company. In addition to accessibility, the behavior of bus drivers and controls in particular is criticized, said the head of the ombudsman, Doris Liebscher. The Berlin judiciary is dealing with a suspected case of racism during a ticket inspection.
So far, Berlin is the only federal state with its own anti-discrimination law. It is intended to protect people from discrimination by the authorities and enable claims for damages against the country. Anyone who feels discriminated against can contact the authority concerned or the ombudsman’s office, which has been part of the administration of justice since October 2020. The accusation is then examined and solutions other than lawsuits are sought first. Victims are also supported with lawsuits.
“The complaints help us to improve as an authority,” said Liebscher. Discrimination is a relatively normal phenomenon in society. With the LADG, Berlin is pursuing a professional approach to this. “We want to get to the structures on a case-by-case basis in order to be able to become more professional as an authority,” says Liebscher.
Broadcast: Fritz, 08/13/2022, 11:00 a.m