German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency

Date established:

August 2006

Mode of establishment:

By legislation: General Act on Equal Treatment

Status:

The agency was established within the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. It is independent in the execution of its duties and only subject to the law (General Act on Equal Treatment, Section 26, 27).

Mandate/objectives:

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency gives independent assistance to persons addressing themselves to the Agency in asserting their rights to protection against discrimination. Such assistance may, among other things, involve

1. providing information concerning claims and possible legal action based on legal provisions providing protection against discrimination;
2. arranging for advice to be provided by another authority;
3. endeavouring to achieve an out-of-court settlement between the involved parties.

Where responsibility lies either with a Parliamentary Commissioner of the German Bundestag or a Federal Government Commissioner, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency passes immediately on the matters of the person, with their prior approval.

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency takes on and independently carries out the following tasks, insofar as no Parliamentary Commissioner of the Bundestag or Federal Government Commissioner is competent in the matter:

1. publicity work;
2. measures to prevent discrimination;
3. academic studies into discrimination.

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency and the competent Federal Government Commissioner and Parliamentary Commissioner of the German Bundestag jointly submit reports to the German Bundestag every four years concerning cases of discrimination and shall make recommendations regarding the elimination and the prevention of such discrimination. They may jointly carry out academic studies into such discrimination.

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency and the competent Federal Government Commissioner and Parliamentary Commissioner of the German Bundestag co-operate in cases of discrimination (General Act on Equal Treatment, Section 27)

Grounds of Discrimination covered:

Race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation

Competences and responsibilities:

1. legal assistance, as mentioned above
2. information, promotion, awareness-raising
3. research and recommendations

Main activities:

• providing information concerning claims and possible legal action based on legal provisions providing protection against discrimination
• arranging for advice to be provided by another authority
• endeavouring to achieve an out-of-court settlement between the involved parties
• publicity work
• measures to prevent discrimination
• academic studies into discrimination
• reports
• request the involved parties to make submissions

Publications:

Leaflet with the text of the General Act on Equal Treatment from 2006 (in German language)

Management:

Head of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (General Act on Equal Treatment, Section 26)

Nomination of senior staff and board:
The Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth appoints a person to head the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, based on a suggestion put forward by the Federal Government. The relationship between the Agency and the Federal Administration is that of an official public-law relationship (öffentlich-rechtliches Amtsverhältnis).

According to General Act on Equal Treatment, Section 30, an advisory board will be established. This body shall advise the authority concerning reports and recommendations to the German Bundestag (Parliament) and concerning research. The advisory board shall also promote the dialogue with groups and organisations in the anti-discrimination field.

Number of Staff:

21

Budget:

2,700.000 € for 2007, budget for 2008 not yet passed by parliament

Accountability:

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency and the competent Federal Government Commissioner and Parliamentary Commissioner of the German Bundestag shall jointly submit reports to the German Bundestag every four years.

Address:

Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes
Alexanderstr. 1
D-10178 Berlin
Postal address: D-11018 Berlin
Telephone: +49(0)3018 555-1865
Fax: +49(0)3018 555-41865
E-mail: poststelle@ads.bund.de