Are you being or have you ever been discriminated against?
Do you feel you are being discriminated against because of:
…
your ethnic origin?
…
a disability or chronic illness?
…
your sexual orientation?
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your gender identity?
…
your religion?
…
your age?
…
your appearance?
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your socio-economic status?
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your language?
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some other reason?
We listen to you!
We are on your side!
We inform you about your rights and options!
We develop solutions together with you!
We help you to defend yourself against discrimination!
We are here for you!
Feel free to contact one of our anti-discrimination advice centres in your area.
Would you like to report discrimination?
Then come this way…
confidential
free of charge
anonymous if required
close to where you live
as barrier-free as possible
WHAT WE OFFER:
Our counselling services
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, we offer horizontal anti-discrimination counselling. This means that anyone who has experienced discrimination can contact us.
According to the General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG), the following characteristics are currently legally protected from discrimination in Germany:
ethnic origin
disability or chronic illness
sexual orientation
gender identity
religion
age
General Equal Treatment ActIn addition to taking legal action, there are also other ways to fight against discrimination.
We can also advise you on discrimination that is not protected by the AGG,
such as caring for relatives, physical appearance, economic status, weight and parenthood, amongst others.
Our counselling is based on your needs and can include the following, for example:
Information about your legal options
In many cases, it is possible to take legal action against discrimination. We provide information on the General Act on Equal Treatment and, if necessary, help you to find a lawyer. We also provide information on financing options.
Requesting statements
Together with you, we can write a letter of complaint to send to the discriminating party.
Accompanying you to appointments
If necessary, we can come with you if you have important appointments to attend that relate to the counselling.
Getting things off your chest
We listen to you and give you emotional support.
EMPOWERMENT
We help you to strengthen your position, e.g. by creating empowerment spaces or organising workshops
Networking with relevant stakeholders
Whether you want to link up with other affected parties, politicians or civil society, we help you to make helpful contacts
Public relations
Discrimination isn’t just an individual problem but a problem for society as a whole. If necessary, we can help you to make discrimination visible.
Referrals
If necessary, we can contact other experts or refer you to lawyers and other specialist counselling centres.
Documentation
Documenting cases of discrimination is an important part of our work so we can draw attention to their social relevance.
In general, what happens during our counselling sessions is only what you want to happen.
We are on your side.
Our counselling is confidential and free of charge. We are independent of government agencies. Our counselling is as barrier-free as possible and close to your home.
Quelle: Beratung für Betroffene rassistischer Diskriminierung, deren Angehörige und Unterstützer*innen im Land Brandenburg
Our counselling is:
Confidential
Your details will not be disclosed to anyone else.
Partisan
We are on your side and boost your position.
Independent
Counselling takes place independently of any authorities, offices or other state agencies.
Needs-orientated
We focus on your needs, and you make all the decisions.
Low-threshold
Counselling should be available to as many people as possible. That is why it is free and local.
Barrier-free
We try to make the premises as barrier-free as possible; we organise interpreters and adapt to your individual needs.
Horizontal
We advise on all forms of discrimination equally.
Intersectional
We try to take a holistic view of your concerns and consider all dimensions of discrimination.
Empowering
Our aim is for you to emerge from our counselling stronger and able to act.
We base our counselling on the standards of the Anti-Discrimination Association Germany (advd) and the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency.
To ensure the quality of our counselling, we are qualified counsellors for anti-discrimination counselling. We regularly do further training and reflect on our work in supervision and intervision sessions. We are also in regular contact with other anti-discrimination counselling centres.
Our work is documented in line with data protection regulations and is subject to regular evaluation. We are also well networked locally with other counselling centres. We are also active in the nationwide anti-discrimination network, an association which is currently in the process of being founded.
Anti-discrimination counselling
in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
There have been three anti-discrimination advice centres in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since the middle of 2023. According to a study („Gut beraten“) conducted by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (ADS) in 2022, MV was the only federal state in Germany which had no anti-discrimination structures – not at state, municipal or civil society level.
A state-wide network of counselling centres and individuals has been working for several years to establish anti-discrimination work and – above all – counselling in the federal state.
With the respekt*land funding programme of the federal government’s ADS, three organisations from the network were able to work together closely to raise funds for the first time in 2023 and drive forward the founding of horizontal anti-discrimination advice centres:
ADB
Antidiskriminierungsbüro für Schwerin und Ludwigslust-Parchim – the anti-discrimination office for Schwerin and Ludwigslust-Parchim (funded by: Flüchtlingsrat Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e. V.)
ADA
Antidiskriminierungsarbeit für Vorpommern-Rügen und Greifswald – the anti-discrimination office for Vorpommern-Rügen and Greifswald (funded by: Jugend kann bewegen e. V.)
ADB
Antidiskriminierungsberatung für Vorpommern-Greifswald in Anklam – the anti-discrimination office for Vorpommern-Greifswald in Anklam (funded by: RAA MV e. V.)
・The three counselling centres work closely together and are guided by the advd’s anti-discrimination counselling standards.
Discrimination is the disadvantaging, marginalisation or harassment of people based on (ascribed) characteristics. It arises due to power relations that have evolved over time and it is, therefore, a structural phenomenon. This means that all people are socialised within the context of discrimination.
It cannot be viewed in isolation from history. The understanding of discrimination is, therefore, also subject to development and is shaped by social discourse. When assessing discrimination, it is always the effect that is key. Whether the discrimination was intentional or not is not relevant.
The various forms of discrimination include, among others:
Racism
Ableism / hostility towards people with disabilities
Sexism / patriarchal oppression
Homophobia / heteronormativity
Trans* and inter* hostility / cissexism and endosexism
Antisemitism
Islamophobia / anti-Muslim racism
Anti-Romanyism
Class discrimination
Adultism / ageism
Bodyism
