RED Network

Yes, partly.

Qualitative Info

German law does not contain an explicit definition of racial discrimination in conformity with article 1.1. ICERD; the ratification of ICERD has not entailed any legal amendments.
The constitutional article 3 GG prohibits differential treatment due to one’s sex, descent, race, language, home or origin, faith, religion or belief; moreover it prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability.
In addition, the federal General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), transposing the EU directive 2000/43 and other EU equality directives, contains a definition of unequal treatment (indirect and direct discrimination) due to, among other characteristics, someone’s race or ethnic origin.

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Source:

• Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (Grundgesetz, GG), http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/index.html (accessed on 09.12.2011).
• General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG), 14.08.2006, http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/agg/ (accessed on 09.12.2011).

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) contains in article 3 definition of direct and indirect discrimination as well as harassment and instruction to discrimination in compliance with the requirements laid down by the two EU directives 2000/43 and 2000/78.

 

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Source:

• General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG), 14.08.2006.

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

The AGG covers the following grounds of discrimination in the sphere of labour law: race, ethnic origin, sex/gender, age, disability, sexual identity, religion or belief (art. 1 AGG).
In the sphere of civil law (e.g. access to goods and services, housing) discrimination is banned on the same grounds, the only exception being the grounds of belief (art. 19 (1) AGG).
This ban on discrimination in civil law only refers to ‘civil-law obligations which (1) typically arise without regard of person in a large number of cases under comparable conditions (bulk business) or where the regard of person is of subordinate significance on account of the obligation and the comparable conditions arise in a large number of cases; or which (2) have as their object a private-law insurance’.
Discrimination due to one’s ethnic origin/race is prohibited by the Act also beyond these ‘bulk business’ limitations, which makes the ban on ethnic discrimination the most comprehensive one.

Note: The federal state of Berlin is currently in the process of discussing and drafting a state antidiscrimination bill, which may also cover the characteristic of ‘social status`.

 

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Source:

• General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG), 14.08.2006.
• Klose, A. (2011), Entwurf für ein Berliner Landesantidiskriminierungsgesetz (LADG), http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/lb_ads/materialien/diskriminierung/ladg.pdf?start&ts=1316791291&file=ladg.pdf (accessed on 10.12.2011).

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

In legal terms, nationality or citizenship status generally does not serve as grounds for less privileged treatment in the access to public goods and services and to economic and social rights (albeit the latter partially depends on someone’s residence status). In employment, more precisely in the access to civil servant positions, however, it is often legally required to hold German nationality; EU nationals are largely exempted from this general requirement for public servants (§ 7 BBG). Third-country nationals, however, can only be nominated as civil servants if there is an urgent official need (dringendes dienstliches Bedürfnis) (§ 7 (3) BBG) (German Federal Parliament 2007).
Until 2011, nationality has been also a decisive factor when applying for permission to work in the health professions such as medical practitioners, chemists, veterinarians, dental practitioners or psychotherapists. According to the previous approbation provisions, non-European third-country nationals (exceptional cases see below) are not entitled to be granted approbation (the full right to work as a recognised doctor), even if they graduated at a German university and fulfil all the other requirements. Third-country nationals can, however, obtain professional permission for a certain period of time, which can be extended (Bundes-Apothekerverordnung BApO § 11, Bundesärzteordnung BÄO § 10, Gesetz über die Berufe des Psychologischen Psychotherapeuten und des Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeuten PsychThG § 4).Yet, in November 2011, the Federal Government passed a new law for the improvement of recognition of foreign degrees. The new law is meant to facilitate the recognition of professional skills earned abroad by introducing a universal recognition procedure in Germany. In addition, German citizenship will be no longer a condition for granting the licensure to practice as a doctor.
With regards to unequal treatment because of someone’s residence status, asylum seekers who hold a temporary legal status while their application is pending constitute a particularly vulnerable group. Their access to employment, housing, social (health) services and other welfare benefits and allowances is severely limited; asylum seekers are, for example, not entitled to work for one year upon their application was lodged (even if being granted asylum during this year).
The AGG does not prohibit discrimination due to someone’s nationality or residence status or title. The German legislator made full use of the citizenship exemption provided by art. 3.2 of the 2000/43 directive.
The Industrial Relations Act (BetrVG), however, applies a broader definition of discrimination which also covers a ban of unequal treatment due to someone’s nationality; art. 75 BertrVG obliges the employer and the work council to ensure that in their company no discrimination against persons occurs due to their ‘race or ethnic origin, their descent or other origin, their nationality, religion or belief, their disability, age or their political or union activities or attitude, their sex or sexual identity’.

 

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Source:

• Federal Medical Code (Bundesärzteordnung, BÄO), http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/b_o/BJNR018570961.html (accessed on 09.12.2011).
• German Law on federal public servants (Bundesbeamtengesetz, BBG), http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/bbg_2009/gesamt.pdf(accessed on 09.12.2011).
• German Federal Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) (2007), Civil servants with migration background (Beamtinnen und Beamte des Bundes mit Migrationshintergrund), printed matter 16/4703, 16.03.2007.
• Law on profession of psychological psychotherapists and child and youth psychotherapists (Gesetz über die Berufe des Psychologischen Psychotherapeuten und des Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeuten, PsychThG), http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/psychthg/BJNR131110998.html (accessed on 09.12.2011).
• Pharmacist Directive (Bundes-Apothekerverordnung, BApO), http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/bapo/gesamt.pdf (accessed on 09.12.2011).
• Industrial Relations Act (Betriebsverfassungsgesetz, BetrVG), http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/betrvg/ (accessed on 09.12.2011).
• Law for the improvement of recognition of foreign degrees (Gesetz zur Verbesserung der Feststellung und Anerkennung im Ausland erworbener Berufsqualifikationen), http://www.bmbf.de/pubRD/bqfg.pdf (accessed on 15.12.2011).

See other countriesSee indicator history

No.

Qualitative Info

The situation of stateless persons in terms of their access to these areas and rights largely depends on their residence status.

The limitations regarding the access to employment as civil servant naturally also applies to stateless persons in situations in which German nationality is a legal prerequisite.

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

Implementing the EU directive 2000/43, the  AGG  covers all the are as provided for in the directive. However, the    AGG  contains exceptional provisions that do not app ear to b e in line with the directive. Besides a questionably broad interpretation of the rights of religious organisations to privilege members of their denomination (§ 9 AGG), the  AGG  explicitly exempts the area of dismissal form the scope of the law; instead, the AGG refers to the Law against Unfair Dismissal (Kündigungsschutzgesetz)   (§ 2 (4) AGG). 
The law also contains a provision that limits the prohibition of housing discrimination (irrespective of the specific grounds of discrimination, but mainly relevant to migrants and ethnic minorities: According to § 19 (3) AGG, ‘in the case of rental of housing, a difference of treatment shall not be deemed to be discrimination where they (sic.) serve to create and maintain stable social structures regarding inhabitants and balanced settlement structures, as well as balanced economic, social and cultural conditions.’

 

 

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

With the AGG entering into effect in August 2006, a new independent body, the anti-discrimination body (Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes, ADS), was established according to the minimum requirements of the directive 2000/43. The ADS covers all grounds of discrimination equally in its function as complaint body. Among other duties, the ADS is in charge of receiving complaints and provide support to victims of discrimination; the ADS can mediate between the accused perpetrator and the complainant seeking to find an amicable solution. The ADS has no investigative powers and is not mandate to assist the victim in legal procedures.  
Furthermore, the two states Hamburg and Berlin have installed a statutory anti-discrimination body in recent years. While the Hamburg state body (Arbeitsstelle Vielfalt) is also concerned with handling complaints and providing support to victims of discrimination (with a similar mandate as the ADS on federal level), the Berlin LADS has successfully set up a Berlin-wide network of (mainly non-governmental) organisations specialised on dealing with discrimination complaints and offering professional support to the complainants.
In addition to the three government agencies, a number of non-governmental organisations have established anti-discrimination offices.

 

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Source:

• Peucker, Mario/ Lechner, Claudia (2010), Machbarkeitsstudie: Standardisierte Datenerhebung zum Nachweis von Diskriminierung!? – Bestandsaufnahme und Ausblick, Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (ed.), Berlin. 

See other countriesSee indicator history

No. There is no systematic data collection.

Qualitative Info

No systematic monitoring and review procedures in place.
However, various governmental bodies on federal, state and local level (including the federal equality body FADA, anti-discrimination bodies in the state of Berlin and Hamburg and in several municipalities) and non-governmental organizations/networks have been established that offer professional support to victims of discrimination and register discrimination-related complaints. The documentation activities of many of these organizations have been increasingly professionalized in recent years. A nationwide network of such organisations and support offers does not exist in Germany; thus, a systematic monitoring of discrimination does not exist. One of the currently most advanced systems of documenting discrimination has been implemented in Berlin, coordinated by the state equality body LADS and based on the counselling and registration of mainly non-governmental organisations specialised in anti-discrimination support.

 

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Source:

• Peucker, Mario/ Lechner, Claudia (2010), Machbarkeitsstudie: Standardisierte Datenerhebung zum Nachweis von Diskriminierung!? – Bestandsaufnahme und Ausblick, Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (ed.), Berlin.

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

The AGG does include a provision on the possibility to adopt ‘positive action’ aimed to ‘prevent or compensate for disadvantages arising on any of the grounds listed in the act (art. 5 AGG).

 

 

See other countriesSee indicator history

No.

Qualitative Info

The general stance of relevant actors (e.g. employers, local or state governments/administration) towards special/positive measures for securing advancement and protection of certain racial or ethnic groups can be described as sceptical and reluctant; accordingly, the adoption of such measures is uncommon.

 

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Source:

• Klose, Alexander/ Merx, Andreas (2010), Positive Maßnahmen zur Verhinderung oder zum Ausgleich bestehender Nachteile im Sinne des § 5 AGG.

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

Several anti-discrimination organisations regularly register a significant number of cases of (perceived) ethnic discrimination in the area of public administration and – though to a much lower degree – misbehaviour of police officers (see, for an overview, Peucker 2010: 30-41).
In its fourth report on Germany, ECRI (2009: 50) expressed concerns about misbehaviour of individual police officers towards members of certain ethnic minority groups. For example, ECRI draws attention to ‘the treatment of Black victims of racist violence as “second-class” victims when they turn to the police for help’. ECRI (2009: 40) also referred to representatives of the German Sinti and Roma community who complained about ‘a generally unfavourable climate of opinion towards them, both amongst the media as well as amongst the police.’
Despite this evidence of incidents of discriminatory behaviour, state representatives do not appear to be systematically engaged in ethnic discrimination.

 

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Source:

• Peucker Mario (2010), Racism and Ethnic Discrimination in Germany - Update Report 2010.
• European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) (2009), Fourth Country Report on Germany – fourth monitoring cycle.

 

See other countriesSee indicator history

No.

Qualitative Info

Legal assistance in court procedure is provided only by a limited number of specialised NGOs; in addition, support is provided by the foundation “Life without racism” ("Leben ohne Rassismus") and the Office for the Implementation of Equal Treatment (Buero zur Umsetzung von Gleichbehandlung, BUG) (the latter specialised mainly strategic litigation).

 

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Source:

• Peucker, Mario/ Lechner, Claudia (2010), Machbarkeitsstudie: Standardisierte Datenerhebung zum Nachweis von Diskriminierung!? – Bestandsaufnahme und Ausblick, Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (ed.), Berlin. 

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

The AGG contains a provision on the burden of proof (art. 22 AGG): As a first step, the victim of discrimination needs to establish facts ‘from which it may be presumed’ that discrimination has taken place. If this is done successfully, the burden of proof shifts to the accused party which then has to prove that ‘there has been no breach of the provisions prohibiting discrimination’.

 

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

Yes, according to art. 23 AGG, anti-discrimination organisations are authorized ‘to be entrusted with the legal affairs’ of the alleged victim of discrimination and ‘to act as a legal advisor’ in the court hearing. The AGG provision also outlines what criteria need to be met to be recognised as an ‘anti-discrimination organisation’ according to the act (art. 23 (1) AGG): The association/organisation must comprise at least 75 members (or seven member associations respectively) and the organisation must strive for the special interests of disadvantaged persons or groups of persons – on a non-profit basis and not only temporarily – which must be enshrined in its statutes.   
Several specialised anti-discrimination NGOs have successfully provided support and legal assistance to victims of discrimination before court.

 

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Yes, partly.

Qualitative Info

The AGG allow for class action or action popularis only to a very limited degree: solely trade unions and work councils are entitled, according to art. 17 AGG, to take legal actions against employers who are suspected to have severely breached an AGG provision.

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Source:

General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG), 14.08.2006, http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/agg/ (accessed on 21.12.2011).

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

The AGG provisions lay down that the perpetrator needs to pay for the damage that was caused by the discriminatory act. This applies to both the sphere of labour law (art. 15 (1) AGG) and civil law (art. 21 (2) AGG); however, the discriminating party is only obliged to compensate for the caused damage if he/she can be made responsible for the maltreatment. If no direct (financial or economic) damage arose from the discriminatory act, the victim is still entitled to ‘appropriate compensation’. While this is not further specified in the civil law provisions, the labour law regulations defines the maximum amount of  compensation to be not more than the equivalent of three monthly salaries ‘in the event of non-recruitment, provided the victim would not have given the job anyway (i.e. if the selection process would have been free from discrimination).

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Source:

• General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG), 14.08.2006, http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/agg/ (accessed on 21.12.2011).

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

The sanctions (i.e. compensation payments) that employers, who have been convicted of unlawful discrimination, have to pay have been fairly low in practice. In the context of racial discrimination, sanctions of more than three monthly salaries have not been recorded yet. Payment for the financial loss caused by the discriminatory non-recruitment has not imposed thus far (in cases determined to be unlawful forms of ethnic discrimination). In the context of civil law (primarily access to housing and to goods and services, especially night clubs), the courts have obliged the convicted perpetrators to only very low compensation payments.

 

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Source:

Bosch, Nicole/ Peucker, Mario/ Reiter, Stefanie (2008), Racism, Xenophobia and Ethnic Discrimination in Germany 2007, p. 8-11.

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes, partly.

Qualitative Info

While generally welcoming the introduction of the AGG, several international monitoring and/or human rights bodies have criticised certain elements of Germany’s anti-discrimination legislations and, more precisely selected AGG provisions. CERD (2008), ECRI (2009) and the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism (UN General Assembly 2010) all critically pinpointed article 19 (3) AGG which exempts landlords from the non-discrimination if the differential treatment aims at creating and maintaining ‘stable social structures regarding inhabitants and balanced settlement structures, as well as balanced economic, social and cultural conditions’. The CERD (2008: 4), for example, underscored the ‘possible negative effects in terms of indirect discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin’ in the access to housing.
In addition, ECRI pointed out in its fourth country report on Germany to the short timeframe of two months during which victims of discrimination have to formally initiate a complain (art. 15 (4) and 21 (5) AGG); moreover ECRI criticised that the Act does not explicitly ban discrimination due to one’s nationality and language and that the severely limited protection against discrimination that results from the fact that ‘public (state-funded) schools are not [subject to the provisions of the AGG]’ due to the prime responsibility of the federal states (Bundesländer) (ECRI 2009: 23).
The UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Muigai, critically commented on the limited human and financial resources at the disposal of the equality agency FADA and, ‘more importantly, the limited mandate of the Agency to carry out investigations and its inability to initiate legal proceedings, or provide legal support to victims’ (UN General Assembly 2010: 17).

In October 2009, the EU Commission argued in its reasoned opinion on Germany’s implementation of the directive 2000/43 that
(1) dismissals are not covered by the law on protection against ethnic discrimination,
(2) protection against victimisation is expressively only guaranteed in the context of employment but should clearly also apply outside employment and
(3) that a claim for sanctions on grounds of discrimination in employment is excluded if the employer is not personally liable for the non-compliance (EC 2009). The German government’s response to these critical points was recognized by the Commission and the legal proceedings against Germany were formally closed in October 2010 (EC 2010).

 

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Source:

• European Commission (EC) (2010), Equality: European Commission closes cases against Germany on anti-discrimination rules, Press release IP/10/1429, 28.10.2010.
• European Commission (EC) (2010), Race equality rules: cases closed for Finland and Estonia; reasoned opinions to Germany and Netherlands, Press release IP/09/1617, 29.10.2009.
• European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) (2009), Fourth Country Report on Germany – fourth monitoring cycle.
• United Nations General Assembly/Human Rights Council (2010) Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerances, Githu Muigai. Mission to Germany. UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) (2008), Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention: International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Germany, CERD/C/DEU/CO/18, 22.09.2008.
   

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No.

Qualitative Info

No systematic evaluation of the AGG has been conducted.

To the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the AGG (August 2011), the federal equality body FADA took stock of its anti-discrimination work and published a press release calling for improvements of the protection against discrimination; five points were highlighted (ADS 2011):
- More comprehensive rights for anti-discrimination organisations to take legal actions on behalf of victims of discrimination (Verbandsklage)
- Stiffer sanctions for unlawful discrimination
- Prolonged timeframe for taking legal action
- More commitment of policymakers and administrations
- Chronic illness to be included in the grounds of discrimination covered by the AGG

The not-for-profit network of expert anti-discrimination organisations, advd, also published a press release to the occasion of five years AGG in August 2011, in which shortcomings and positive developments were highlighted (advd 2011). On the positive side, advd representatives stated that the federal equality body FADA has become more visible and active since the new chairwomen (Ms Lüders) took office in early 2010. Over the past five years, the issue of discrimination has been discussed more calmly than before and a few important court rulings have occurred. While welcoming these positive developments, the advd stresses that many shortcomings of the AGG continue to prevail:
- Short timeframe for lodging formal legal action
- Organisations are not allowed to take legal action on behalf of a victim
- Insufficient shift of burden of proof
- Often insufficient knowledge of the AGG (even) among lawyers and courts
- Insufficient ban of (ethnic) discrimination in the realm of public administration and education

 

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Source:
Antidiskriminierungsverband Deutschland (advd) (2011), 5 Jahre Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG) - Der Antidiskriminierungsverband Deutschland (advd) zieht Bilanz, Press Release, 16.08.2011, http://www.antidiskriminierung.org/?q=node/338 (accessed on 30.11.2011)
Anti-discrimination body (Antidiskriminierungsstelle, ADS) (2011), 5 Jahre AGG – 5 Forderungen der ADS, http://www.antidiskriminierungsstelle.de/SharedDocs/Aktuelles/DE/2011/20110816_Forderung_5Jahre.html; %20jsessionid=5217F9C3FE550BCCC24A0FA8ED07DC0E.2_cid103 (accessed on 30.11.2011).
 

See other countriesSee indicator history

Yes.

Qualitative Info

According to German law, the federal police can ask a person to identify him- or herself solely on the basis that he/she is found at a place where the police assumes that persons meet to prepare criminal offences, or that criminals are hiding there (§ 23 II Nr. 1 BPolG). On the basis of this law, the police has repeatedly checked the identity of persons only due to their “foreign appearance”, and cases of police violence have taken place in this context as well (KOP 2010). While there is no evidence that the police proceed systematically in this way, there is evidence that persons coming from former Yugoslavia or from Turkey specifically are, by comparison, checked by the police more often. (KOP 2010; FRA 2010 p. 34f. ; UN 2009).
Furthermore, Data mining (Rasterfahndung) has led to unintentional ethnic profiling (e.g. concerning Muslims). Data mining is a legal practice of the German police to narrow the potential group of suspects in a specific case. By going through various data bases, the police employs a filter for those that show certain characteristics, which again form the profile of the wanted person(s). In general, due to its potentially discriminating effects, Data mining is considered controversial.
In addition, there have been reports of ethnic profiling of Sinti and Roma, Muslims and members of ’recognisable’ (notably black) minority groups (Duvall 2005, p. 16f; Hieronymus 2011).

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Sources:

• Duvall, Misti (2005): “Ethnic Profiling by Police in Europe”, in: Open Society Institute (2005): Justice Initiatives: Ethnic Profiling by Police in Europe, pp. 14-25, http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/articles_publications/publications/juticeinit_20050610/justiceinit_200506.pdf, accessed on 22.02.2012.
• European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights FRA (2010): Für eine effektivere Polizeiarbeit. Diskriminierendes ‘Ethnic Profiling’ erkennen und vermeiden: ein Handbuch,  http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Guide-ethnic-profiling_DE.pdf, accessed on 22.02.2012.
• Hieronymus, Andreas (2011): ENAR Shadow Report 2009/2010 – Supplemental Report : Ethnic profiling in Germany, http://cms.horus.be/files/99935/MediaArchive/ENAR%20Ethnic%20Profiling%20Supplement%20Germany.pdf, accessed on 27.02.2012.
• KOP, Kampagne für Opfer rassistischer Polizeigewalt (2010): “The colour of guilt and innocence” – Racial Profiling im Rahmen polizeilicher Personenkontrollen, http://kop-berlin.de/de/2010/01/the-colour-of-guilt-and-innocence-racial-profiling-im-rahmen-polizeilicher-personenkontrollen/, 22.02.2012.
• Rassistische Diskriminierung in Deutschland unterbinden. Parallelbericht an den UN-Antirassismusausschuss zum 16.–18. Bericht der Bundesrepublik Deutschland nach Artikel 9 des Internationalen Übereinkommens zur Beseitigung jeder Form von rassistischer Diskriminierung (quoted as Parallelbericht). Forum Menschenrechte, http://www.bmj.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/pdfs/Parallelbericht_der_Nichtregierungsorganisation_Forum_Menschenrechte.pdf?__blob=publicationFile, accessed on 15.2.2012.
• UN-Gesandter gegen Rassismus zog Bilanz für Deutschland: Mehr gegen Diskriminierung tun (2009) (qutoted as UN 2009), http://islam.de/13346, accessed on 22.02.2012.
   

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Yes, there are disparities between the number of racist incidents and crimes reported and the numbers of racist incidents and crimes recorded by police authorities.

Qualitative Info

According to the fourth ECRI-report on Germany, “NGOs consistently report higher numbers of incidents of racist violence than the police, a fact that suggests that some victims may lack confidence in the police to deal effectively with their case.”
Another reason therefore might be that recording and especially the persecution of racist incidents is based on a narrow understanding of ‘racism’ in the German law and – to a large extent – among judges and the police, which only views such incidents as racist that are of an extreme right-wing nature.

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Source:

 

• ECRI, Fourth Report on Germany, adopted December 19, 2008, para. 90-92.158, http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/DEU-CbC-IV-2009-019-ENG.pdf, accessed on 27.02.2012.

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There is no evidence that areas containing significant numbers of migrants and minorities are policed in different ways than others.

Qualitative Info

There is no evidence that areas containing significant numbers of migrants and minorities are policed in different ways than others.

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In general, access to the civil justice system is made possible and affordable for the entire population. Yet, there has been no systematic evaluation published with regard to disproportionate problems migrants/minorities are facing in accessing justice.

Qualitative Info

In ‘The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index™2011’, Germany is ranked 2nd out of all 66 countries recorded in the index in the category ‘Access to Civil Justice’. This indicates that, in general, access to the civil justice system is made possible and affordable for the entire population. Yet, there has been no systematic evaluation published with regard to disproportionate problems migrants/minorities are facing in accessing justice.

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Source:

• The World Justice Project: Rule of Law Index 2011; online source: http://worldjusticeproject.org/sites/default/files/wjproli2011_0.pdf

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In general, there is no evidence for differential sentencing.

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Yes, the unemployment rate of persons with a migration background is significantly higher than of persons without a migration background.

Qualitative Info

According to data from the Microcensus, in 2010 the unemployment rate (Erwerbslosenquote) of migrants was twice as high as of persons without a migration background. Whereas the unemployment rate of persons without a migration background was 6.1 per cent (2009: 6.6 per cent), it was 11.8 per cent (2009: 13.1 per cent) among the population with a migration background.

With a rate of 12.6 per cent, male migrants had a significantly higher unemployment rate in 2010 (2009:13.9 per cent) than males without a migration background, for whom the rate was 6.4 per cent (2009: 6.8 per cent). While the unemployment rate for migrant women (2010: 10.7 per cent; 2009: 12.1 percent) was also twice as high as it was for women without a migration background (2010: 5.8 per cent; 2009: 6.4 per cent), the rate has fallen considerably from its level of 17.3 per cent in 2005.

Foreigners had the highest unemployment rate with 13.8 per cent in 2010 (2009: 14.9 per cent), with the rate among males being 14.5 per cent (2009: 15.6 per cent) and among females 12.8 per cent (2009: 13.9 per cent).

 

The highest levels of migrant unemployment in 2009 were among persons with a Russian background (male: 20.5 per cent, female: 17.2 per cent), a Turkish background (male: 18.2, 11.8 per cent) and a Serbian background (male: 18.2 per cent, female: 8.3).

 

According to statistics of the Federal Employment Agency, the unemployment rate (Arbeitslosenquote) for foreign nationals was more than twice as high as the rate for German nationals. In 2009, the unemployment rate for foreign nationals was 19.1 per cent and 8.3 per cent for German nationals.

 

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Source:

• Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration (ed.) (2011): Zweiter Integrationsindikatorenbericht, p.77ff., http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2012/01/2012-01-12-integrationsbericht.pdf;jsessionid=A07701E41DE227773CE79446453F372B.s2t1?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 19.01.2012).

• 
  Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) (2010), Migranten am Arbeitsmarkt in Deutschland, Integrationsreport, Teil 9, Working Paper 36, Nuremberg, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp36-migranten-am-arbeitsmarkt-in-deutschland.pdf;jsessionid=87E7D580BD068641B6B5E2284B7A123C.1_cid248?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 19.01.2012).

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There is no substantial data available.

Qualitative Info

There is no substantial data available.

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Yes, third country nationals receive lower pay rates.

Qualitative Info

While third country nationals receive lower pay rates than German nationals, the differences between German nationals and second generation migrants or EU-migrants can be fully explained by differences in professional status, education and other individual characteristics. The data basis does not allow for any certain explanations for the lower pay rates of third country nationals.

 

---

Source:

• Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration (ed.) (2011): Zweiter Integrationsindikatorenbericht, p.198ff., http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2012/01/2012-01-12-integrationsbericht.pdf;jsessionid=A07701E41DE227773CE79446453F372B.s2t1?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 19.01.2012).

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No, there are no legal restrictions or effective practices of exclusion of migrants and minorities regarding membership of and participation in trade unions.

Qualitative Info

There are no legal restrictions or effective practices of exclusion of migrants regarding membership of and participation in trade unions. Foreign nationals can join a German trade union, and if they do, they have the same rights and duties as German members.

 

---

 

Source:

• German Federation of Trade Unions (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB), http://www.dgb.de/uber-uns/dgb-heute/satzung (accessed on 19.01.2012).

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Yes, partly. There are no legal obstacles to access employment in the public sector, except for the area of civil service which, in principle, only German nationals and EU citizens are entitled to work in.

Qualitative Info

Whereas a person, irrespective of nationality, can be employed in the public sector (e.g. by the city), one can only become a civil servant if one is a German national, or has the nationality of another EU country (art. 7 BBG). Consequently, third country migrants cannot be employed as civil servants, but only as employees in the public sector.

The Microcensus data reveal a substantial under-representation of migrants in the public services. Persons with a migration background were represented in the public services only by 9.6 per cent in 2010 (2009: 9.8 per cent) compared to18.2 per cent (2009: 18.7 per cent) of persons without a migration background. Foreigners were employed in the public services even less often, with a rate of solely 7.7 per cent for 2010 (2009: 8.1).

 

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Source:

• Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration (ed.) (2011): Zweiter Integrationsindikatorenbericht, p.131 ff., http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2012/01/2012-01-12-integrationsbericht.pdf;jsessionid=A07701E41DE227773CE79446453F372B.s2t1?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 19.01.2012).
• 
  European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (2009), Diversity policy in employment and service provision - Case study: Frankfurt, Germany: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2009/174/en/1/EF09174EN.pdf (accessed on 19.01.2012).
•  

• Bundesbeamtengesetz (BBG), http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bbg_2009/index.html (accessed on 19.01.2012).
   

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No, there are no legal restrictions or effective practices of exclusion of migrants and minorities regarding membership of and participation in trade unions.

Qualitative Info

There are no legal restrictions or effective practices of exclusion of minorities regarding membership of and participation in trade unions. Minorities can join a German trade union, and if they do, they have the same rights and duties as German members.

 

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Source:

• German Federation of Trade Unions (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB), http://www.dgb.de/uber-uns/dgb-heute/satzung (accessed on 19.01.2012).

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Yes, there are several good practices and positive initiatives against discrimination/racism at the workplace.

Qualitative Info

One of the most significant large-scale programmes against discrimination in employment are the nationwide programme ‘XENOS – living and working in diversity’ (Xenos- Leben und Arbeiten in Vielfalt), financially and politically supported by the German government.  XENOS aims at combating ethnic discrimination in employment and fostering migrants’ access to the labour market and diversity in general. Within the large-scale funding scheme XENOS, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs launched a sub-programme that seeks to improve the labour market integration of groups of refugees and migrants with a tolerated status (Duldung). It aims to strengthen those local and regional networks and initiatives which assist the target group in securing employment and provide further training to those who have a job already in order to enhance their chances to keep their job.

 

Another notable initiative is the German diversity management campaign ‘Diversity Charter’ (Charter der Vielfalt), which constitutes one of the most important networks of companies and institutions in Germany to foster diversity and anti-discrimination principles in the labour market. By signing the charter, the member companies and institutions commit themselves to values such as tolerance and fairness.

 

In November 2010, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Office (Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes, ADS) has initiated a nationwide pilot project in order to test the method of anonymous job applications. Different companies as well as government agencies and municipalities implemented this method of staff recruitment. In the course of this pilot project, several thousands of applications have been made anonymous

 

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Source:

• Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales), XENOS - Leben und Arbeiten in Vielfalt, http://www.esf.de/portal/generator/6734/xenos__leben__arbeiten__in__vielfalt__inhalte.html (accessed on 19.01.2012).
• Diversity Charter (Charter der Vielfalt e.V.), http://www.charta-der-vielfalt.de/ (accessed on 19.01.2012).
• Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes, ADS), Anonymisierte Bewerbungsverfahren - das Pilotprojekt, http://www.antidiskriminierungsstelle.de/DE/Projekte_ADS/anonymisierte_bewerbungen/anonymisierte_bewerbungen_node.html;jsessionid=4B1303E7942A5A389E671FF668E11053.2_cid094 (accessed on 19.01.2012).

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Yes. Although there is no nationwide reporting system on inner-city spatial distribution of migrants, several studies confirm segregation between migrant groups and majority population.

Qualitative Info

Although there is no nationwide reporting system on inner-city spatial distribution of migrants, several studies confirm segregation between migrant groups and majority population. Thereby, the level of segregation depends on the migrant group. A study on certain migrant groups and persons with dual citizenship in 29 towns, conducted by a Berlin-based institute (Arbeitsstelle für Interkulturelle Konflikte und gesellschaftliche Integration am Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin, AKI) showed that significant levels of segregation can be noticed amongst Turkish nationals and Turkish persons of dual nationality; followed by persons from the former Soviet Union and former Yugoslavia. Thus, persons with a Turkish citizenship and persons from the former Soviet Union more often live in districts with a higher proportion of their own ´nationality` compared to the average proportion in the city.

Generally, in city districts with a high proportion of foreigners, the concentration of the migrant groups which are analysed in the study is high, too. The study, which was published in 2007, refers mainly to data from 2004 and is based on official statistics and on the dataset of the inner-city spatial monitoring (Innerstädtische Raumbeobachtung) provided by the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung, BBR).
In 2006, the Federal Office Building and Regional Planning (Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung, BBR) started a project called Migration/Integration and local housing/neighbourhood policies (Migration/Integration und Stadtteilpolitik) where 75,000 neighbourhoods were analysed. The findings show a rather high level of ethnic segregation in East Germany, Northern Bavaria, Northern Hesse and the Ruhr are in North Westphalia (Ruhrgebiet). Further, the results also indicate a higher level of segregation in large cities and in small municipalities having fewer inhabitants than small towns.
Jürgen Friedrichs reviewed several studies on ethnic segregation in Germany. The results of a study which analysed 15 cities between 1990 and 2005 indicated that segregation generally decreased in German cities between 1990 and 2005. The highest level of segregation could be observed by people of Turkish and of Greek origin; the latter has changed as shown in more recent studies mentioned above.
Migrants are usually over-represented in less-favoured districts. As migrant quarters are mostly multi-ethnic, neighbourhoods, where one nationality represents the population majority, are not common in Germany on the level of city districts. Only few city districts have a migrant group which is represented with more than 10 per cent of all inhabitants (SVR 2010, p. 193 ff.). However, disadvantaged neighbourhoods are rather caused by social segregation than by ethnic segregation (Friedrichs 2008, p. 390, 392, 404). Thus, an increase in social segregation is more likely to be observed.

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Source:

• Bosch, Nicole/ Peucker, Mario/ Reiter, Stefanie (2008), Racism, Xenophobia and Ethnic Discrimination in Germany 2007, http://www.efms.uni-bamberg.de/pdf/Diskriminierung_Deutschland_2007_1.pdf (accessed on 23.01.2012), p.100/101.
• 
  Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) (2008), Daten zu Wohnverhältnissen und innerstädtischer Segregation von Migranten, Working Paper 21, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp21-wohnen-innerstaedtische-segregation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 12.12.2011), p.58/59.
• 
  Friedrichs, Jürgen (2008), Ethnische Segregation, in: Kalter, Frank (ed.): Migration und Integration. VS Verlag: Wiesbaden, 380-411.
• 
  Sachverständigenrat deutscher Stiftungen für Integration und Migration (SVR) (2010), Einwanderungsgesellschaft 2010: Jahresgutachten 2010 mit Integrationsbarometer, http://www.svr-migration.de/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/svr_jg_2010.pdf (accessed on 23.01.2012).
• 
  Schönwälder, Karen/ Söhn, Janina (2007),  Siedlungsstrukturen von Migrantengruppen in Deutschland: Schwerpunkte der Ansiedlung und innerstädtische Konzentrationen,  Discussion Paper no. SP IV 2007-601, http://bibliothek.wzb.eu/pdf/2007/iv07-601.pdf (accessed on 03.01.2012), p. 1, 8-10.

 

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The report by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) states that persons of Turkish origin constitute the highest segregated migrant group in Germany.

Qualitative Info

The report by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) states that persons of Turkish origin constitute the highest segregated migrant group in Germany followed by persons from the former Soviet Union (BAMF 2008, p.58/59). These results refer to a study in 2007 of a Berlin-based institute (Arbeitsstelle für Interkulturelle Konflikte und gesellschaftliche Integration am Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin, AKI) and to a study based on datasets of the Microcensus 2006, which is provided by the Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt, Destatis).
Another study indicates, that approximately one third of Turkish foreigners live in city districts where the proportion of persons of Turkish origin is twice as high as the average proportion in the whole city (SVR 2010, 194 f.). In earlier studies, persons of Greek origin were amongst the highest segregated groups (Friedrichs 2008, 404).
All studies fail to take German nationals with migrant background into account. This shortcoming may lead to an underestimation of ethnic segregation in Germany.

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Source:

• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) (2008), Daten zu Wohnverhältnissen und innerstädtischer Segregation von Migranten, Working Paper 21, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp21-wohnen-innerstaedtische-segregation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 12.12.2011).
• 
  Friedrichs, Jürgen (2008), Ethnische Segregation, in: Kalter, Frank (ed.): Migration und Integration. VS Verlag: Wiesbaden, 380-411.
• 
  Sachverständigenrat deutscher Stiftungen für Integration und Migration (SVR) (2010), Einwanderungsgesellschaft 2010: Jahresgutachten 2010 mit Integrationsbarometer, http://www.svr-migration.de/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/svr_jg_2010.pdf (accessed on 23.01.2012).

See other countriesSee indicator history

Qualitative Info

As statistical data do not ascertain information on ethnicity, it is difficult to provide clear figures on Sinti and Roma as well as on other minority groups in Germany. Due to the data situation, it is impossible to give quantitative statements on housing conditions and levels of segregation of minorities.
Nevertheless, some analyses of non-representative qualitative data show that Sinti and Roma live more often in outskirts of larger cities, which often have a poorer infrastructure, or in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Further, the areas, where Sinti and Roma live, are partly situated in an environmentally problematic area (e.g. industrial zones, close to train tracks etc.). Besides social and economic factors, discrimination (for example due to anti-Roma prejudices) also seems to be a factor for disadvantaged housing situations (Peucker et. al. 2009, p. 6).

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Source:

• Hieronymus, Andreas/ Fögen, Ines/ Mehreoglu, Yücel/ Kröger, Justin, ENAR Shadow report 2009/2010 - Racism and Discrimination in Germany, http://cms.horus.be/files/99935/MediaArchive/Germany.pdf (accessed on 05.01.2012), p. 12.
• 
  Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern, BMI) (2011), EU-Rahmen für nationale Strategien zur Integration der Roma bis 2020 – Integrierte Maßnahmenpakete zur Integration und Teilhabe der Sinti und Roma in Deutschland, p. 12.
• 
  Peucker, Mario (2009), Raxen Thematic Study - Housing Conditions of Sinti and Roma, http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Germany_en.pdf , accessed on 04.01.2012), p.4-6, 34.
• 
  Sachverständigenrat deutscher Stiftungen für Integration und Migration (SVR) (2010), Einwanderungsgesellschaft 2010: Jahresgutachten 2010 mit Integrationsbarometer, http://www.svr-migration.de/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/svr_jg_2010.pdf (accessed on 23.01.2012).

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Qualitative Info

As statistical data do not ascertain information on ethnicity, it is difficult to provide clear figures on Sinti and Roma as well as on other minority groups in Germany. But some non-representative surveys show that ethnically segregated Sinti and Roma neighbourhoods have emerged in several cities. Thereby, ethnic segregation (contrary to socio-economic segregation) is sometimes sought by the Sinti and Roma community itself (Peucker et. al. 2009, p. 6/34).

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Source:

• Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern, BMI) (2011), EU-Rahmen für nationale Strategien zur Integration der Roma bis 2020 – Integrierte Maßnahmenpakete zur Integration und Teilhabe der Sinti und Roma in Deutschland, p. 12.
• 
  Peucker, Mario (2009), Raxen Thematic Study - Housing Conditions of Sinti and Roma, http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Germany_en.pdf (accessed on 04.01.2012), p.4-6/34.

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In the literature, majority driven segregation in Germany is hardly addressed.

Qualitative Info

An outflow of persons from city districts with a high proportion of migrants can be observed but it would be misleading to talk about a majority driven segregation. The outflow can rather be associated with socio-economic status than with ethnical or cultural motives. Thus, nationals and non-nationals having a better socio-economic status are prone to leave these neighbourhoods. The reasons for moving to another district are similar: Nationals and non-nationals are concerned about their children’s education which they assume to be better in schools with fewer migrants. Other reasons for leaving these districts are to improve their housing conditions and to live in an area with a better infrastructure (Häußermann/ Siebel 2001, p.58f.).

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Source:

• Häußermann, Hartmut /Siebel, Walter (2001). Soziale Integration und ethnische Schichtung: Zusammenhänge zwischen räumlicher und sozialer Integration, http://www.schader-stiftung.de/docs/haeussermann_siebel_gutachten.pdf (accessed on 23.01.2012).

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No.

Qualitative Info

In general, migrants have equal access to the housing market in Germany. Exceptions are made with migrant groups who were accommodated in collective centres from the beginning of their stay in Germany.
Ethnic German immigrants, who were assigned to a certain place of residence by the authorities, are not obliged anymore to take up the assigned residence after the Residence Allocation Act (Wohnortzuweisungsgesetz) expired in 2009.

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Source:

• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) (2008), Daten zu Wohnverhältnissen und innerstädtischer Segregation von Migranten, Working Paper 21, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp21-wohnen-innerstaedtische-segregation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 12.12.2011), p. 22.
• 
  Peucker, Mario (2010), Racism and Ethnic Discrimination in Germany – Update Report 2010, p. 13.

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Yes. The divergences between the migrant and majority population might be a result of the fact that the area of housing holds a significant high degree of discrimination.

Qualitative Info

In general, persons with a migration background usually have less square metres for their disposal; in owner-occupied housing as well as in rented flats. Especially persons with a Turkish migration background show a high number of persons per household compared to the majority population as well as compared to other households with a migration background.
It can be observed that persons with a migration background usually live in less preferred neighbourhoods than persons without a migrant background. Furthermore, a much higher percentage of persons with a migrant background live in houses with more then three living quarters or even twelve living quarters than persons without a migrant background, who more often live in one- or two-family houses.
Other indicators for quality include sanitary installations, heating systems and balcony or garden. With exception of access to a garden, no major differences could be observed between migrant and non-migrant groups. Lastly, quality in housing is more expensive for persons with migration background (6,2 €/m²) than for persons without migration background (5,9 €/m²).

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Source:

• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) (2008), Daten zu Wohnverhältnissen und innerstädtischer Segregation von Migranten, Working Paper 21, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp21-wohnen-innerstaedtische-segregation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 12.12.2011), p.5/6.

• 
  Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt, Destatis) (2008), Bevölkerung mit Migrationshintergrund – Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus 2006. Fachserie 1, Reihe 2.2, Wiesbaden.
  
   

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Yes. The divergences between the migrant and majority population might be a result of the fact that the area of housing holds a significant high degree of discrimination. In particular, the most significant differences exist between the group of persons with a Turkish migration background and the majority population.  

Qualitative Info

In general, persons with a migration background usually have less square metres for their disposal; in owner-occupied housing as well as in rented flats. Especially persons with a Turkish migration background show a high number of persons per household compared to the majority population as well as compared to other households with a migration background.
It can be observed that persons with a migration background usually live in less preferred neighbourhoods than persons without a migrant background. Furthermore, a much higher percentage of persons with a migrant background live in houses with more than three living quarters or even twelve living quarters than persons without a migrant background, who more often live in one- or two-family houses.
Other indicators for quality include sanitary installations, heating systems and balcony or garden. With exception of access to a garden, no major differences could be observed between migrant and non-migrant groups. Lastly, quality in housing is more expensive for persons with migration background (6,2 €/m²) than for persons without migration background (5,9 €/m²).

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Source:

 

• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) (2008), Daten zu Wohnverhältnissen und innerstädtischer Segregation von Migranten, Working Paper 21, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp21-wohnen-innerstaedtische-segregation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 12.12.2011), p.5/6.
• Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt, Destatis) (2008), Bevölkerung mit Migrationshintergrund – Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus 2006. Fachserie 1, Reihe 2.2, Wiesbaden.
   

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Qualitative Info

In the area of housing, the degree of discrimination remains significant as several studies show. According to a study conducted by the social scientist Emsal Kılıç (2010), discrimination exclusively occurs due to the foreign sounding name (ENAR 2009/2010, p. 17f.).
Further, the AGG features shortcomings as it contains exceptional regulations that limit prohibition of housing discrimination on grounds of ´race` or ethnic origin. Discriminatory treatment is allowed in order to maintain socially stable housing structures and a ‘balanced mixture concerning the economic, social and cultural composition of a neighbourhood’ (art. 19 (3) AGG).
Although the housing situation of migrants has improved in the last few years, migrants have to pay a higher rent, have less per-capita living space and lesser ownership rates compared to persons without a migration background (BAMF 2008, 43f.).

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Source:

• Emsal Kılıç, Diskriminierung von Migranten bei der Wohnungssuche- eine Untersuchung in Berlin, Schriften der Landesstelle für Gleichbehandlung- gegen Diskriminierung, Berlin 2010.
• 
  Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) (2008), Daten zu Wohnverhältnissen und innerstädtischer Segregation von Migranten, Working Paper 21, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp21-wohnen-innerstaedtische-segregation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 12.12.2011), p.43f.
• 
  General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG), 14.08.2006, http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/agg/gesamt.pdf (accessed on 30.11.2011).
• 
  Hieronymus, Andreas/ Fögen, Ines/ Mehreoglu, Yücel/ Kröger, Justin, ENAR Shadow report 2009/2010 - Racism and Discrimination in Germany, http://cms.horus.be/files/99935/MediaArchive/Germany.pdf (accessed on 05.01.2012), p. 17f.

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Qualitative Info

There is no sufficient information available in order to identify specific affected groups with particular difficulties.
Many studies assessing the housing situation of migrants and discrimination in the area of housing focus on people of Turkish origin, as they constitute the main migrant group in Germany. The research institute Centre for Studies on Turkey (Zentrum für Türkeistudien, ZfT) published its 11th annual report on the situation of people of Turkish origin in North Rhine-Westphalia in January 2011. The level of perceived discrimination increased in most spheres of life, including the search for a flat. 39.1 per cent of the respondents experienced discrimination in the area of housing, especially when looking for a flat. Another survey conducted by Planerladen showed that 42 per cent of 150 tested landlords give German interested parties the preference compared to Turkish interested parties.

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Source:

• Sauer, Martina (2011), Partizipation und Engagement türkeistämmiger Migrantinnen und Migranten in Nordrhein-Westfalen - Ergebnisse der elften Mehrthemenbefragung 2010, p. 69, 147.
• 
  Planerladen e.V. (2007), Ungleichbehandlung von Migranten auf dem Wohnungsmarkt. Ergebnisse eines "Paired Ethnic Testing" bei Internet- Immobilien- Börsen.

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Qualitative Info

In the German school system, the first selection in separate educational tiers takes place after four years. This is seen as a factor which hampers students whose mother tongue is not German to enter higher educational tiers. The result is an overrepresentation of minority students in the lower educational stratum. The early selection in different educational tiers has also been criticised by the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism (Peucker 2010, 19).

A study on the educational situation of German Sinti and Roma (Studie zur aktuellen Bildungssituation deutscher Sinti und Roma) shows that the low level of education and educational achievements is caused by a variety of factors. It indicates that this minority group has to deal with direct and indirect discrimination in the education system. On the one hand, the reasons are found within the family and its attitude to education, respectively to the level of education. Yet, on the other hand, institutional and societal circumstances also restrain the educational careers of Roma and Sinti. Although to a lesser degree, subtle discrimination by teachers in schools can be observed. Sinti and Roma are often confronted with prejudices and are stigmatized in a negative way as “gypsies”, etc. Some respondents mentioned discrimination by teachers as in paying less attention to their needs and by making discriminatory comments related to common stereotypes about their ethnic group (Migazin 2011; Strauß 2011).

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Source:

• Migazin (2011), Aus dir wird ohnehin nichts“ – Bildungssituation in Deutschland, 28.07.2011, http://www.migazin.de/2011/07/28/sinti-und-roma-bildungssituation-in-deutschland/ (accessed on 16.01.2012).
• Peucker, Mario (2010), Racism and Ethnic Discrimination in Germany Update Report 2010, http://www.efms.uni-bamberg.de/pdf/CDC_Germany_2010_efms.pdf (accessed on 09.02.2012).
• Strauß, Daniel (2011), Studie zur aktuellen Bildungssituation deutscher Sinti und Roma: Dokumentation und Forschungsbericht, http://www.stiftung-evz.de/w/files/roma/2011_strauss_studie_sinti_bildung.pdf (accessed on 19.12.2011).

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Qualitative Info

In general, foreign pupils are underrepresented in the higher secondary education (´Gymnasium`, ´Realschule`) and at the same time overrepresented in lower education (´Hauptschule`, ´Förderschule`) and in evening classes as well as integrated comprehensive schools.
Kindergardens, schools and other institutions of education exert a significant influence in the way they are dealing with persons of different social backgrounds. Because of their institutional structure, programmes, underlying rules, ways of communication and routines, these institutions can contribute to the manifestation of social differences in levels of education and in access to higher levels of education (Migazin 2010). According to the umbrella anti-discrimination organisation advd (Antidiskriminierungsverband Deutschland), more than 10 per cent of all registered discrimination complaints refer to the area of education. Other organisations, such as AMIGRA (anti-discrimination department within the Munich municipality), or the Berlin anti-discrimination body LADS (Landesstelle für Gleichbehandlung – gegen Diskriminierung) observe an increase in discrimination in the area of education (Peucker 2010, 18).

More qualitative research on institutional discrimination in the field of education is necessary.

The Bertelsmann Foundation evaluated Germany’s integration policy in a study in 2011. It found deficits, inter alia, in the area of education, and criticised especially the unequal burden to access the education system. Success in education is significantly dependent on the origin and social status of the child (Schraad-Tischer et. al. 2011, 9-10).

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Source:

• Migazin (2010), Institutionelle Diskriminierung im Bildungs- und Erziehungssystem, 22.04.2010, http://www.migazin.de/2010/04/22/institutionelle-diskriminierung-im-bildungs-und-erziehungssystem/all/1/ (accessed on 16.01.2012).
• Peucker, Mario (2010), Racism and Ethnic Discrimination in Germany Update Report 2010, http://www.efms.uni-bamberg.de/pdf/CDC_Germany_2010_efms.pdf (accessed on 09.02.2012).
• Schraad-Tischer, D., Hellmann, T., Azahaf, N., Schwarz, R. (2011), Nachhaltiges Regieren in der OECD – Wie zukunftsfähig ist Deutschland? Sustainable Governance Indicators 2011, Gütersloh, Bertelsmann Stiftung, http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/bst/de/media/xcms_bst_dms_33521_33522_2.pdf (accessed on 07.09.2011).
• Siegert, Manuel (2008), Schulische Bildung von Migranten in Deutschland, Working Paper 23, der Forschungsgruppe des Bundesamtes aus der Reihe „Integrationsreport“, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp13-schulische-bildung.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 16.01.2010).

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Qualitative Info

A survey conducted by the Federal Ministry for Migration and Refugees (Bundesministerium für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) in 2006/2007 on the living situation of the five main groups of foreigners in Germany investigated the level of education. Thereby, the study did not distinguish if the respondents obtained their graduation in their country of origin or in Germany.
The Polish respondents achieved the best level of education within the group of foreigners. Thereby, it should be noted that among the Polish respondents more persons obtained their graduation in their country of origin compared to the other groups. In general, Polish, Russian and Croatian persons achieved comparatively high levels of education, whereas Turkish persons showed a rather low level of education. Turkish respondents hold the lowest level of education with less than 10 per cent obtaining a university degree.

The following list illustrates the percentage of respondents who either achieved the lowest graduation level of secondary school (compulsory education) or no graduation at all (BAMF 2010, 82 ff.):
Turkish respondents:  61 per cent lowest graduation (´Hauptschule`); 13 per cent no graduation
Respondents from former Yugoslavia: 56.5 per cent lowest graduation (´Hauptschule`); 8.4 per cent no graduation
Italian respondents: 60.1 per cent lowest graduation (´Hauptschule`); 11.5 per cent no graduation
Greek respondents: 51.4 per lowest graduation (´Hauptschule`); 11.5 per cent no graduation
Polish respondents: 37.4 per cent lowest graduation (´Hauptschule`); 1.0 per cent no graduation

The second Integration Indicator Report issued by the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) confirmed that in the period from 2004/2005 to 2009/2010 a positive trend in the educational level of pupils with a migration background can be observed. Still, a significant difference in the level of education between pupils with a migration background and pupils without a migration background remains (Engels et. al. 2011, 11/12/34-38).

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Source:

• Engels, Dietrich/ Köller, Regine/ Koopmans, Ruud/ Höhne, Jutta (2011), Zweiter Integrationsindikatorenbericht, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2012/01/2012-01-12-integrationsbericht.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 13.02.2012).
• Federal Ministry for Migration and Refugees (Bundesministerium für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF) (2010). Forschungsbericht - Fortschritte der Integration:  Zur Situation der fünf größten in Deutschland lebenden Ausländergruppen, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/Forschungsberichte/fb08-fortschritte-der-integration.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 16.01.2012).

See other countriesSee indicator history

Qualitative Info

One of the core results of a working paper published by the Federal Ministry for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) in 2008 shows that foreign pupils drop out of secondary school before graduation more often than German pupils. 11.6 per cent of men and 14.4 per cent of women with a migration background do not obtain a general certificate of school graduation; compared to 1.7 per cent men and 1.8 per cent women without a migration background.

Still, a trend can be observed that persons with a migration background hold, with decreasing age, more often a graduation certificate. For example, women with a migration background between 15 and 25 obtain two and a half times more often a graduation than women aged between 45 and 65 (Siegert 2008, 5, 46, 48). The second Integration Indicator Report issued by the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) confirmed the positive trend, not only within the general population but also within the group of persons with a migration background (Engels et. al. 2011, 11/12).

A study on the current educational situation of German Sinti and Roma (2007–2011) showed that 13 per cent of the Sinti and Roma respondents have never attended school. Among those who attended school, 44 per cent did not graduate. A general problem for Sinti and Roma to achieve better education are antiziganistic stereotypes, which result in discrimination coming from pupils as well as from teachers (Strauß 2011, 11, 94).

 

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Source:

• Engels, Dietrich/ Köller, Regine/ Koopmans, Ruud/ Höhne, Jutta (2011), Zweiter Integrationsindikatorenbericht, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2012/01/2012-01-12-integrationsbericht.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 13.02.2012).
• Siegert, Manuel (2008), Schulische Bildung von Migranten in Deutschland, Working Paper 23, der Forschungsgruppe des Bundesamtes aus der Reihe „Integrationsreport“, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Publikationen/WorkingPapers/wp13-schulische-bildung.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 16.01.2010).
• Strauß, Daniel (ed.) (2011), Studie zur aktuellen Bildungssituation deutscher Sinti und Roma, http://www.stiftung-evz.de/w/files/roma/2011_strauss_studie_sinti_bildung.pdf (accessed on 06.02.2012).

 

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Qualitative Info

In October 2008, acting within the framework of their Qualification Initiative for Germany, the Federal Government announced that the promotion measures for adolescents should be enhanced. The goal is to offer young persons, especially those with a migration background, the possibility to graduate from lower secondary school (German Federal Government 2008, 10).
The Federal Government plans to increase its budget for education and science by 12 billion euros until 2013. The Federal Ministry for Education and Science (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) will develop new measures addressing the special needs of young people with a migration background and will continue to implement positive measures (BMBF 2012).

A working group on “Integration through education” (Integration durch Bildung) has been established in 2011 aiming to improve the education for young migrants and to enhance parental involvement. The group consists of representatives of the Federal Government and the Länder (Bund-Länder-Arbeitsgruppen) (German Federal Government 2011).

In the Federal States North-Rhine Westphalia and Hesse, practical barriers for undocumented migrants to enrol their children at school have been removed since March 2008 and December 2009. Families are not in the duty to provide official registration documents when they intend to enrol their children at school. Further, schools are not obliged to inform the foreigners´ department about the undocumented status of the children. In Berlin, the State Senate for Education, Sciences and Research issued an official information statement to all public schools in Berlin in November 2009 to underline the right of children with undocumented status to attend school (Peucker 2010, 20). Since July 2011, these provisions have been applied at the national level. The German Bundestag passed a bill which suspends the obligation of public authorities in the field of education to inform the foreigners´ authorities in case they become aware of an irregular status of migrants (German Federal Press Office 2011).

The promotion of German language skills is a key issue in education policies. In all Federal States a language proficiency assessment is common followed by promotion of the children prior to their enrolment. Nevertheless, no data is available that could give a summary of children with migration background who have special educational needs. Municipalities aim to promote language skills, especially in the early childhood education. Therefore, the programme “Mothers learn German” (Mütter lernen Deutsch) was implemented to improve the language skills of the parents and thus increase the incentive for children to speak German. Such measures are very important, especially in regard to the fact, that 15.7 per cent of the children in kindergartens do not speak German in the first place in their parents´ home. (BAMF 2010, 83-85)

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Source:

• German Federal Government (2008), Aufstieg durch Bildung – Die Qualifizierungsinitiative für Deutschland, 22.10.2008, http://www.bmbf.de/pubRD/beschluss_bildungsgipfel_dresden.pdf (accessed on 13.02.12012).
• German Federal Government (2011), Vorfahrt für bessere Bildungschancen von jungen Migranten / Konstituierende Sitzung der Bund-Länder-Arbeitsgruppe „Integration durch Bildung“, 22.02.2011, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Artikel/IB/Artikel/BildungUndAusbildung/2011-02-22-Konstituierung-AG-Bildung-und-Integration.html (accessed on 20.02.2012).
• German Federal Press Office (Presse- und Informationsamt der Bundesregierung) (2011), Schul- und Kindergartenbesuch für Kinder von Zuwanderern ohne Aufenthaltsstatus möglich, Press Release 254, 11.07.2011, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Pressemitteilungen/BPA/2011/07/2011-07-11-ib-statuslose-kinder.html (accessed on 20.02.2012).
• Federal Ministry for Education and Science (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) (2012), Integration durch Bildung, http://www.bmbf.de/de/15624.php (accessed on 13.02.2012).
• Federal Office for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Bundesamt für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) (2010), 8. Bericht der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration über die Lage der Ausländerinnen und Ausländer in Deutschland, June 2010, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2010/2010-07-07-langfassung-lagebericht-ib.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 9 February 2012).
• Peucker, Mario (2010), Racism and Ethnic Discrimination in Germany Update Report 2010, http://www.efms.uni-bamberg.de/pdf/CDC_Germany_2010_efms.pdf (accessed on 09.02.2012).
  

   

•  

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Qualitative Info

Concerning racist violence, some Federal States (e.g. Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt) provide official statistics on extremist right-wing crimes in and around schools. These data are based on police statistics on politically motivated right-wing crimes. In 2003, Berlin implemented a special reporting scheme on violent incidents at schools. The statistics by the Berlin reporting system record a relatively low number of ‘extremist’ incidents in the term 2008/2009. A general trend cannot be identified. (Peucker 2010, 18)
On regional and local level, anti-discrimination offices record complaints of discrimination in the field of education. For instance, the Munich based anti-discrimination agency AMIGRA reported that 13.8 per cent of 238 persons who approached AMIGRA for different reasons between 2007 and 2009 felt discriminated in the area of education (AMIGRA 2009, 22).

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Source:

• AMIGRA (2009), Antidiskriminierungsarbeit für Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund, http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Direktorium/Amigra/PDF/bericht2_2007_2009.pdf (accessed on 13.02.2012).
• Peucker, Mario (2010), Racism and Ethnic Discrimination in Germany Update Report 2010, http://www.efms.uni-bamberg.de/pdf/CDC_Germany_2010_efms.pdf (accessed on 09.02.2012).

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Yes, partly.

Qualitative Info

In general, the promotion of multilingualism has been favoured in the field of education policy already since 1996; the measures to implement these propositions remain very heterogeneous due to the education system, which is organised at the federal level (Motakef 2006, 29/30). Provisions to provide targeted mother language education and promotion for children with a migration background who are raised in a multilingual context have been discussed but not been implemented extensively on the national level yet. In kindergardens, the promotion of the mother language of children with migration background is hardly supported (BAMF 2010, 86).

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Source:

• Federal Office for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Bundesamt für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) (2010), 8. Bericht der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration über die Lage der Ausländerinnen und Ausländer in Deutschland, June 2010, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2010/2010-07-07-langfassung-lagebericht-ib.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 9 February 2012).
• Motakef, Mona (2006), Das Menschenrecht auf Bildung und der Schutz vor Diskriminierung: Exklusionsrisiken und Inklusionschancen, http://www.institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de/uploads/tx_commerce/studie_das_menschenrecht_auf_bildung_u_der_schutz_vor_diskriminierung.pdf(accessed on 12.02.2012).

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Qualitative Info

There are no policies of separate schooling of migrants in place. However, due to the fact that some city districts hold a high percentage of persons with a migration background, schools close or within these districts also hold a high percentage of pupils with a migration background. Disadvantaged neighbourhoods are rather caused by social segregation than by ethnic segregation (Friedrichs 2008, p. 390, 392, 404), thus, school segregation is rather caused by social segregation of certain neighbourhoods. Another factor which decisively contributes to the fact that some schools hold a very low proportion of pupils with a migration background compared to others is the so called “Sprengelpflicht”. This means that pupils are supposed to visit the school which is located in the school district they live in. This applies to primary school, not to secondary school (Link 2011, p. 142).
Subsequently, the proportion of pupils with migration background in schools reflects the social segregation of the neighbourhoods and thus the social segregation of the schools (BAMF 2010, 84).
Additionally, as nationals and non-nationals are concerned about their children’s education which they assume to be better in schools with fewer migrants, they try to move to other more favourable districts (Häußermann/ Siebel 2001, p.58f.).
The German education system lacks to deal adequately with the social and ethnical heterogeneity. Even with the same social status, pupils with a migration background are less represented in higher secondary education and more in lower secondary education compared to pupils without migration background (BAMF 2010, 87).

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Source:

• Federal Office for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Bundesamt für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) (2010), 8. Bericht der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration über die Lage der Ausländerinnen und Ausländer in Deutschland, June 2010, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2010/2010-07-07-langfassung-lagebericht-ib.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 9 February 2012).
• Häußermann, Hartmut /Siebel, Walter (2001). Soziale Integration und ethnische Schichtung: Zusammenhänge zwischen räumlicher und sozialer Integration, http://www.schader-stiftung.de/docs/haeussermann_siebel_gutachten.pdf (accessed on 23.01.2012).
• Friedrichs, Jürgen (2008), Ethnische Segregation, in: Kalter, Frank (ed.): Migration und Integration. VS Verlag: Wiesbaden, 380-411.
• Link, Judith (2011), Schichttypische Benachteiligung im allgemeinen Bildungswesen: Ein Vergleich zwischen Kanada und Deutschland. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.

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Qualitative Info

There are no policies of separate schooling of migrants in place. However, due to the fact that some city districts hold a high percentage of persons with a migration background, schools close or within these districts also hold a high percentage of pupils with a migration background. Disadvantaged neighbourhoods are rather caused by social segregation than by ethnic segregation (Friedrichs 2008, p. 390, 392, 404), thus, school segregation is rather caused by social segregation of certain neighbourhoods. Another factor which decisively contributes to the fact that some schools hold a very low proportion of pupils with a migration background compared to others is the so called “Sprengelpflicht”. This means that pupils are supposed to visit the school which is located in the school district they live in. This applies to primary school, not to secondary school (Link 2011, p. 142).
Subsequently, the proportion of pupils with migration background in schools reflects the social segregation of the neighbourhoods and thus the social segregation of the schools (BAMF 2010, 84).
Additionally, as nationals and non-nationals are concerned about their children’s education which they assume to be better in schools with fewer migrants, they try to move to other more favourable districts (Häußermann/ Siebel 2001, p.58f.).
The German education system lacks to deal adequately with the social and ethnical heterogeneity. Even with the same social status, pupils with a migration background are less represented in higher secondary education and more in lower secondary education compared to pupils without migration background (BAMF 2010, 87).

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Source:

• Federal Office for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Bundesamt für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) (2010), 8. Bericht der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration über die Lage der Ausländerinnen und Ausländer in Deutschland, June 2010, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2010/2010-07-07-langfassung-lagebericht-ib.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 9 February 2012).
• Häußermann, Hartmut /Siebel, Walter (2001). Soziale Integration und ethnische Schichtung: Zusammenhänge zwischen räumlicher und sozialer Integration, http://www.schader-stiftung.de/docs/haeussermann_siebel_gutachten.pdf (accessed on 23.01.2012).
• Friedrichs, Jürgen (2008), Ethnische Segregation, in: Kalter, Frank (ed.): Migration und Integration. VS Verlag: Wiesbaden, 380-411.
• Link, Judith (2011), Schichttypische Benachteiligung im allgemeinen Bildungswesen: Ein Vergleich zwischen Kanada und Deutschland. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.

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Yes.

Qualitative Info

According to data from the German Microcensus the morbidity rate has increased in general and for all groups between 2005 and 2009. During this period of time, the rate increased by 18 per cent for persons with a migration background and by 19 per cent for foreigners, whereas the rate for persons without a migration background increased only by 15 per cent. While the morbidity rate for the whole population with a migration background (12.1 per cent) is lower than the morbidity rate of the German population without a migration background (14.5 per cent), the population with a migration background has a higher morbidity rate among the middle and higher age groups.

 

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Source:

• Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) (ed.) (2011): Zweiter Integrationsindikatorenbericht, p.121-123, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2012/01/2012-01-12-integrationsbericht.pdf;jsessionid=A07701E41DE227773CE79446453F372B.s2t1?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 30.01.2012).
•  
• Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) (June 2010): 8. Bericht der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration über die Lage der Ausländerinnen und Ausländer in Deutschland, p. 340, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2010/2010-07-07-langfassung-lagebericht-ib.pdf;jsessionid=302B1C999D11829D7D54EEABEBEC1CFA.s2t1?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 30.01.2012).
  

   

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No.

Qualitative Info

There is no valid information on the mortality rate of the population with a migration background available. Therefore only the mortality rate of the foreign population can be considered.
Between 2003 and 2007 there has been a steady decline of the standardized mortality rate (Europe-standard) for foreign men and in total also a decline for foreign women, although in their case the decline was not a steady one. By contrast, in the same time period, the standardized mortality rate (Europe-standard) has increased for German men and slightly decreased for German women.

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Source:

• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) (ed.) / Martin Kohls (2011), Morbidität und Mortalität von Migranten in Deutschland, p.72-74.103-109.235, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/EN/Publikationen/Forschungsberichte/fb9-mortalitaet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 30.01.2012).
•  
• Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (ed.) / Michael Knipper and Yasar Bilgin (2009), Migration und Gesundheit, p.35, http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_16451-544-1-30.pdf?100422141713 (accessed on 30.01.2012).
•  
• Sachverständigenrat deutscher Stiftungen für Integration und Migration (ed.), Einwanderungsgesellschaft 2010 – Jahresgutachten 2010 mit Integrationsbarometer, p.97, http://www.svr-migration.de/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/svr_jg_2010.pdf (accessed on 30.01.2012).

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No, there is no evidence of forced healthcare/intervention practices to migrants or minorities.

Qualitative Info

There is no forced healthcare or intervention practices to migrants or minorities in Germany.

Yet, due to a higher risk of tuberculosis, asylum seekers have to partake in a preventive tuberculosis-screening when entering Germany.

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Source:

• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) (ed.) / Martin Kohls (2011), Morbidität und Mortalität von Migranten in Deutschland, p.62, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/EN/Publikationen/Forschungsberichte/fb9-mortalitaet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 30.01.2012).

•  

• Dr. Jens Schmitz (2012), Routinemäßiges Tuberkulose-Screening von Immigranten: Eine sinnvolle und kosteneffiziente Strategie? in: Pharmazie in unserer Zeit, Volume 41, Issue 1, p.76-78, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pauz.201100456/pdf (accessed on 30.01.2012).
   

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A migration background cannot be considered as the determining variable causing illness or higher risk of morbidity. Rather the socio-economic status influences the state of health of persons with a migration background, who comparatively often belong to a socially disadvantaged segment of the population.

Qualitative Info

According to the study “Migration and Health” (Migration und Gesundheit) conducted by the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, a migration background cannot be considered as the determining variable causing illness or higher risk of morbidity. Rather the socio-economic status influences the state of health of persons with a migration background, who comparatively often belong to a socially disadvantaged segment of the population (BAMF 2010, 342/343). Due to their often lower social status, particular migrant groups deal with health issues resulting from physically and psychologically stressful work and living situations. Furthermore, migrants show a higher risk of psycho-social burden caused by traumatic events in the country of origin (for example torture) or during the migration process. Especially older migrants show a comparatively worse state of health and higher need for care.  (BAMF 2010, 339).
In contrast, migrants are less prone to fall ill with cardiovascular diseases than Germans do. Children with a migration background suffer for instance less from asthma or hay fever, but show more oral health problems compared to children without a migration background due to the comparatively low use of precautionary measures amongst persons with a migration background (BAMF 2010, 338/ 342).

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Sources:

 

• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) (ed.) / Martin Kohls (2011), Morbidität und Mortalität von Migranten in Deutschland, p.62-69, http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/EN/Publikationen/Forschungsberichte/fb9-mortalitaet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 30.01.2012).
• Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) (June 2010), 8. Bericht der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration über die Lage der Ausländerinnen und Ausländer in Deutschland, p. 337-345, http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2010/2010-07-07-langfassung-lagebericht-ib.pdf;jsessionid=302B1C999D11829D7D54EEABEBEC1CFA.s2t1?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 30.01.2012).
   

 

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Yes, partly.

Qualitative Info

In general, migrants do not face limitations or restrictions in accessing the social protection system and benefits. However, asylum seekers whose procedure is still running and the so called ‘tolerated’ persons only receive a basic social protection to cover their basic needs.

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Sources:

• ECRI (2009), ECRI Report on Germany – fourth monitoring cycle, http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/DEU-CbC-IV-2009-019-ENG.pdf (accessed on 01.03.2012).

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Yes. Persons with a migration background have a higher risk of poverty than the rest of the population.

Qualitative Info

In general, the data of the German Microcensus reveal that the at-risk-of-poverty rate slightly decreased between 2005 and 2010. Among the group of persons with a migration background the rate decreased by 7 per cent while the decrease for the total population only amounted to 2 per cent. Yet, with 26.2 per cent in 2010 (2009: 26.7) the at-risk-of-poverty rate for persons with a migration background was still significantly higher than for persons without a migration background, which had a rate of 14.5 per cent (2009: 14.6). The rate for the foreign population was even higher with 31.7 per cent (2009: 31.8 per cent).

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Source:

• Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration) (ed.) (2011), Zweiter Integrationsindikatorenbericht, p.86ff., http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/2012/01/2012-01-12-integrationsbericht.pdf;jsessionid=298EFC176E6478E0F8AA3034B5AD2384.s1t1?__blob=publicationFile (accessed on 30.01.2012).

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No.

Qualitative Info

No, evidence for migrant or minority women being particularly vulnerable in accessing and receiving effective health care services could not be identified.

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Yes.

Qualitative Info

One main objective of the National Action Plan (NAP), which was recently presented by the federal government, is to improve the access to preventative and health promotion programmes, health system facilities and services, healthcare facilities and services and employment in the health and healthcare system for migrants.
In addition, there have been a lot of governmental and non-governmental good practices accommodating culture/traditions’ respect in health care, in the last years, most of them on the local or regional level:
In 2010, the annual conference of the independent German Ethics Council was entitled “Migration and Health – Cultural Diversity as a Challenge for Medical Care”, sought to provide answers to questions in the area of immigrant health care by providing scientific and practical lectures in medical, legal and ethical perspectives.
In 2008, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) financially supported the three-year project of the municipal health department in Nuremberg that aims to identify existing barriers in the access to health care services for migrants and to find adequate ways to redress them.
In late 2008, the Diakonie (DW EKD) and three of its regional branches launched the three year project Mitten im Leben, which seeks to redress existing structural barrier that migrants face in the access to social and health care services of the Diakonie. More precisely, the process of intercultural adaptation (“Intercultural Opening”) of health and social care providers should be promoted on several levels: through organisational changes, culturally sensitive internal and external communication, changes regarding the staff and the quality of the services provided.
In the area of nursing care, there have been good practice examples on the integration of migrant seniors into the general services of the care system for elderly. For instance, the nursing home for elderly Adam Müller-Guttenbrunn (AMG), run by the welfare organisation Caritas Stuttgart, has implemented several measures pursuing an intercultural transformation of their services. Amongst other activities, the AMG conducted intercultural training for all their staff, which consists of employees from different countries. A working group, comprising representatives of the management and employees, was commissioned to develop a nursing concept and standards which takes into account the specific needs of migrants. Furthermore, a new ‘biography questionnaire’ has been used in order to gain information on the cultural and religious needs of the individual residents.

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Sources:

Federal Government (27.12.2011): Der Nationale Aktionsplan Integration. http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Artikel/2011/12/2011-12-27-integration-nationaler-aktionsplan.html (Accessed on 12.01.2012)

http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/_Anlagen/IB/2012-01-31-flyer-nap-deutsch.pdf?__blob=publicationFile (Accessed on 12.01.2012)

http://www.ethikrat.org/veranstaltungen/jahrestagungen/migration-und-gesundheit (Accessed on 12.01.2012)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/gesundheitsamt/migration.html#0 (Accessed on 12.01.2012)

http://www.diakonie.de/kooperationsprojekt-mitten-im-leben-5296.htm (Accessed on 12.01.2012)

http://www.caritas-stuttgart.de/66288.html (Accessed on 12.01.2012)

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Qualitative Info

There are no particular practical obstacles or problems for the group of German citizens with a migration background in exercising their right to vote.

There is no evidence that German citizens with a migration background face particular practical obstacles or problems in exercising their right to vote. For German citizens who have a migration background, the participation in elections is nearly as high as for Germans without a migrations background.

Moreover, the participation of foreigners from an EU member state in local elections and for the European parliament, on the other hand, is clearly below the rates of Germans.

 

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Source:

• Wüst, Andreas M. (2006): Wahlverhalten und politische Partizipation von Migranten. in: Der Bürger im Staat. 56. Jahrgang, Heft 4/2006, p. 228-234, http://www.buergerimstaat.de/4_06/integration.pdf (16.01.2012).

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