Is racial discrimination defined in national law?

Code:: RED1
Key Area:: Anti-discrimination Legislation & Implementation
Strand(s):: Racism, Discrimination

04/01/2012 - 17:20

Short Answer

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.

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).

Groups affected/interested

Migrants, Refugees, Roma & Travelers, Muslims, Ethnic minorities, Religious minorities, Linguistic minorities, Asylum seekers, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Persons with disability

Type (R/D)

Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

Anti-discrimination

External Url

Situation(s)

Library

Indicator history

Germany - 2012

Is racial discrimination defined in national law?