The tradition of reporting in Germany has a special significance and is a permanent part of German culture. North Rhine-Westphalia is set to connect with this tradition by establishing four new reporting platforms. In the coming spring, the platforms for reporting on anti-Muslim bias, queerphobia, anti-Roma sentiment, and racism against Black and Asian people will start operating.
People will then be able to report incidents online. After three years of preparation, four separate reporting platforms, each focused on a specific type of discrimination, will go live.
If the reported discrimination constitutes a criminal offense, the affected individuals are recommended to file a complaint and contact the police. The reporting platforms will not be responsible for direct legal pursuit, according to Kemal Bozay from the Cologne-based interKultur association, which is building the platform for reporting anti-Muslim bias.
However, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Integration Minister Josefine Paul (The Greens) makes it clear that the goal is to encourage those affected to report to the police. The reporting platforms are necessary, she says, “because there are still significant blind spots” – many victims do not file a complaint.
The AfD (Alternative for Germany) party, on the other hand, fears that the reporting platforms might promote a “culture of denunciation.” In a motion, the party called for the project to be stopped. The motion was rejected with the votes of CDU, SPD, Greens, and FDP.
The construction of the four reporting platforms is being financed by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with each project receiving €180,000 in funding.