Information about the Research Project

Welcome to the website of the research project "Reality of Discrimination in Germany - Assumptions and Facts" ("Realität der Diskriminierung in Deutschland - Vermutungen und Fakten"). Disadvantages due to age, disability, sex, skin colour, ethnic origin as well as sexual identity are social realities. The various forms and frequencies of discrimination have however been little studied to date. The aim of our project is to remedy this situation and thus to further the groundwork for future legal discussions. Our results will contribute to the sensitising of discriminatory patterns of behaviour and to their deconstruction.

Discrimination in Germany

Even following the introduction of the Common Equality Law (CEL) in 2006 there are many questions remaining regarding antidiscrimination laws in Germany. What patterns of discrimination actually exist in Germany? In which areas of life does discrimination occur? Which people are affected by discrimination and how often? How often are cases relating to the CEL brought to court? Due to limited data, discussions regarding these questions are often based on assertions and guesswork and not on empirical facts.

The Research Project

In order to research the social reality of discrimination the Institute for Legal Sociology and the Research of Legal Facts at the Free University of Berlin will undertake an empirical study, conducted by Prof. Dr. Hubert Rottleuthner together with Prof. Dr. Matthias Mahlmann (Institute of Law at the University of Zürich), with the theme "Reality of Discrimination in Germany - Assumptions and Facts". The research project will be funded by the European Commission through the PROGRESS Program, the Federal Ministry for Families, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, as well as the Free University of Berlin.

The aim of the research project will be to ascertain for various social situations a realistic picture of the forms and frequencies of discrimination and discrimination patterns.

The Design of the Research

In order to gain as realistic a picture as possible of the situation in Germany, not only will there be an evaluation of the jurisdiction of antidiscrimination law, but judges, lawyers and antidiscrimination workers and associations will also be asked about their experience in cases of discrimination.

Court Questionnaire

Questioning judges will show what their initial experiences of the CEL are in court cases and what explanations these experiences can offer for existing problems.

Questioning Lawyers and Associations

The experiences of lawyers and antidiscrimination workers and associations in daily advice bureaus is especially important as presumably only a small number of discrimination cases actually go to court.

Legal Situation

In addition the study will analyse the current legal situation in Germany as to still existing discriminatory laws.

Media Analysis

An examination will be undertaken of the methods influential daily newspapers deal with the theme of discrimination within the scope of an analysis of media.