A coalition of civil society organizations is calling for a state anti-discrimination law in the German Federal State of Lower Saxony. It underlines that discrimination is still a structural problem in many areas of life and affects people in Lower Saxony for example in education, the workplace, access to services, and government action.
While the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) provides protection against many forms of discrimination, it still leaves gaps in the area of discriminatory government actions. There is a lack of an effective legal framework for discrimination by authorities, schools, the police, and other public bodies at the state level. A state anti-discrimination law would close these gaps in protection and provide those affected with concrete legal rights and procedures. Such a law is announced in the coalition agreement between the governing parties in Lower Saxony.
The civil society organizations now started a campaign to put pressure on the parliament and the government of Lower Saxony to work on a law that provides the legal frame to protect people from discrimination by public bodies and institutions.
The law should:
- close gaps in legal protection under the AGG, particularly by covering discrimination resulting from government action
- facilitate legal recourse for those affected (e.g., through extended deadlines, class-action lawsuits)
- establish preventive and structural measures against discrimination in government agencies, schools, the police, etc.
- strengthen counseling, complaint, and ombudsman structures and ensure their long-term funding
- promote social awareness and diversity.
Regular anti-discrimination trainings in institutions like police, authorities, schools or justice is mentioned as one contribution to foster prevention, awareness raising and diversity. Structural discrimination is mirrored in some of the Participa City scenarios. The campaign for a state anti-discrimination law proves these sectors again as relevant. It underlines that training is very important. Ifak supports the idea of a state law and signed the campaign.