BERLIN – The German Federal Anti-Discrimination Office has reported a record number of inquiries in 2024, with 11,405 requests for advice, surpassing the previous annual high. According to the office’s annual report, presented in Berlin on Tuesday, the number of inquiries has been steadily increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Racist discrimination cases accounted for 43 percent of the total, a significant increase of over 300 percent since 2019. The report also highlighted a high number of cases of discrimination based on disability or chronic illness, making up 27 percent of the inquiries and those related to gender, which accounted for 24 percent, including cases of sexual harassment.
The office’s findings suggest that women are disproportionately affected by gender-based discrimination, including poor pay, limited career opportunities and sexual harassment in the workplace. “Gender-based discrimination is still deeply rooted in our society and it’s on the rise again” said Ferda Ataman, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Commissioner.
The majority of the reported cases of discrimination occurred in the workplace, with one in three cases linked to job searching, job interviews, or the work environment. The office also received reports of discrimination in everyday life, such as during housing searches or at restaurants. Moreover, 25 percent of the complainants reported discrimination by state authorities.