Antigypsyism in Berlin: More cases of discrimination than ever before

“The consistently high and now increasing number of cases show that antigypsyism remains a structural problem. At the same time, we know that many of those affected do not report discrimination – out of fear of consequences or a lack of trust in institutions,” said project manager Violeta Balog.

The documentation center particularly frequently recorded incidents from everyday life, public spaces and the educational sector. DOSTA is observing a significant increase in antigypsy bullying there. At the same time, there is a lack of information and independent complaint options in schools. “The continued use of racist external terms” is also recurring and is becoming increasingly normalized.

The documentation center particularly frequently recorded incidents from everyday life, public spaces and the educational sector. DOSTA is observing a significant increase in antigypsy bullying there. At the same time, there is a lack of information and independent complaint options in schools. “The continued use of racist external terms” is also recurring and is becoming increasingly normalized.

The report is also dedicated to media discourses, including those surrounding a hotel in Tempelhof-Schöneberg, as well as debates about alleged abuse of social benefits. These narratives are taken up not only by right-wing parties, but also by government factions. Another focus is labor exploitation, which, according to the report, particularly affects Eastern European Roma.

The specialist office emphasizes the importance of anti-discrimination work, especially in times of increasing polarization. It concludes that increased measures are needed in education, administration and politics in order to “effectively counteract antigypsyism and sustainably protect those affected.”