Open and unrestrained discrimination is on the rise in Germany once more.
In Germany, according to Ferda Ataman, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, discrimination is becoming more overt and unrestrained once again. When inquired if there's an uptick in discrimination compared to previous times, Ataman shared with the "Rheinische Post" that there aren't any comprehensive studies to back this up. However, it's evident that there's an upsurge in individuals reaching out to the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency and societal organizations.
Ataman also commented that some individuals perceive the rise in right-wing extremist votes in elections as a democratic justification for disrespectful sentiments towards people.
Prior to the implementation of the General Equal Treatment Act, employers had no qualms about seeking "young, attractive secretaries" or outright declining applications from non-nationals. Since the law's introduction, such overt acts of discrimination have decreased. Today, however, individuals are encountering rejection letters more frequently, laced with hate speech or offensive comments such as "Individuals like you are unnecessary here."
Violent attacks against refugees, Muslim women and men, Jewish women and men, queer individuals, and people with disabilities have seen an increase. These instances of violence aren't considered discrimination, but rather criminal offenses. Nevertheless, we are witnessing a significant surge in our area of responsibility as well. This includes not only an increase in racist and anti-Semitic discrimination, but also a notable increase in incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace.
The Commission has been actively addressing the surge in incidents of racial and sexual harassment in the workplace, as shared by Ataman. In response to the rise in discriminatory sentiments, the Commission has been receiving an increasing number of reports from individuals.
