Resolution for the concerns of black people

Resolution of the State Advisory Council for Participation dated 25.11.2024

The State Advisory Council for Participation has decided:

Office for an independent representative for the interests of black people

The state of Berlin is called upon to set up an office for an independent representative for the interests of black people. The office should be staffed full-time and have the following goals and functions:

1st point of contact, advice and assistance: The office could serve as a one-stop shop for black people seeking support, advice, or information about their rights and options. A representative for the interests of black people can provide advice to those affected by discrimination and racism and help them to exercise their rights.

2. Representation and advocacy: The commissioner could represent the interests of black people in political and social discussions and campaign for their concerns.

3. Representation and visibility: Establishing an independent representative for the concerns of black people is an important step towards representing a diverse society. It is essential that the voices and perspectives of black people are heard in political decision-making processes.

4. Raising awareness: Through educational work and campaigns, the office could raise awareness of the challenges and discrimination that Black people face.

5. Networking: The office could work with various organizations, initiatives and civil society to develop joint strategies to combat racism. It is intended to serve as a platform for exchange and networking within the Black Community in Berlin and promote cooperation with other organizations and institutions.

6. Combating racism: In Berlin, as in other cities, racism and discrimination are unfortunately still widespread. An independent representative can act as a central point of contact to identify and dismantle racist structures.

7. Promoting equality: The office should not only serve as a mouthpiece, but also actively develop programs and initiatives that promote equality and integration of black people in all areas of society.

8. Monitoring and reporting: The Commissioner can collect and analyze data on racist incidents in order to better understand the situation of black people in Berlin and take targeted measures.

9. Political influence: The office can make recommendations for policy measures and programs aimed at improving the living conditions of black people

Justification

The presence of people of African origin in Germany can be traced back to the 17th century.

Anton Wilhelm Amo was the first known philosopher of African origin in Germany who taught at the universities of Wittenberg, Halle and Jena. He came to Germany as a child in 1707.

Mandenga Diek came to Germany from Cameroon in 1891 and was the first African to receive German citizenship in 1896.

Today, 1.27 million people with an African immigrant background live in Germany1. However, black people in Germany do not necessarily have an African migration background or an African immigration history. Some of them live in Germany at least in the sixth generation and have a parent with US, French or Brazilian citizenship, for example.

People of African origin, whether as descendants of transatlantic slavery or as recent migrants, are among the most marginalized groups worldwide. Studies by national2 and international organizations show that people of African origin still have limited access to high-quality education, healthcare, adequate housing and social security. Their situation often goes unnoticed. The efforts of people of African origin to improve their current situation have not yet been sufficiently recognized and supported.

They often experience discrimination in access to justice and are exposed to alarming levels of police brutality based on racial profiling and sometimes even death. In addition, their political participation is often limited, both in terms of voter turnout and the appointment of political office.

Berlin was the first federal state to set out to implement the UN Decade for People of African Origin (2015 — 2024). This is intended to strengthen the economic, social, cultural and political rights of people of African origin in the city and combat anti-black racism.

As a result, the UN Decade of People of African Descent has helped to strengthen the visibility and rights of people of African descent, but many challenges remain. This is the question of stabilizing the results of this UN decade! There should be opportunities to support people of African origin.

The current situation of black people in Germany with regard to racism has worsened enormously. The number of assaults, both verbal and physical, including deaths, has increased.

These incidents are often an expression of deep-rooted racist attitudes in society and can severely affect the sense of security and well-being of those affected.

Reem alabali-Radovan, Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration and Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Racism:

“Anyone who experiences discrimination and racism must find qualified support, quickly and easily. But it often fails because 22 percent of people in Germany have already experienced racism themselves, but on average there is only one full-time consultant position for every 920,000 inhabitants. That must change. Through community-based advice, we build up advisory structures together with communities affected by racism — low-threshold, close to home and correspondingly competent in dealing with various forms of racism. ”

People of African descent have belonged to Germany for centuries. However, they are still subject to numerous forms of discrimination. It is therefore all the more important that their perspectives and experiences are taken into account.

Everyone is entitled to human rights by virtue of their humanity: “All people are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection under the law without distinction,” states Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This human rights principle is enshrined in a legally binding manner in several human rights treaties. The rights guaranteed in the Treaties must be granted to everyone without discrimination. The prohibition of discrimination is a central, inseparable part of human rights and is indispensable in a democratic constitutional state. Protection against discrimination ensures that all people have equal opportunities to participate in all areas of social life.

Human dignity results in the claim of all people to be respected as equals. Racism negates this claim of respect and is thus fundamentally opposed to the idea of human rights.

The fight against racism is therefore a core concern of human rights. Overcoming it must also address the reality of historically and socially deep-rooted inequalities. Such inequalities and exclusion mechanisms must be identified and overcome through active action.

This is required by the Basic Law and European and international human rights treaties such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Convention against Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

The International Decade for People of African Descent was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 23, 2013. It has the motto “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development.” The international community has committed itself to promoting the recognition, rights and development of people of African descent and to combat racial discrimination and racism by 2024. The year 2024 is almost over, yet there are still enormous challenges for people of African descent

The experiences of discrimination in Germany are burdening those affected and endangering our democracy and cohesion in our society,” explain the Commissioner for Discrimination in Germany.

The establishment of an office for an independent representative for the concerns of black people in Berlin would be an important step towards combating racism and promoting the rights and interests of black people.

The establishment of such a branch office would send a strong signal of the commitment of the State of Berlin in the fight against racism and to promote diversity and inclusion.

For the reasons mentioned above, we ask the State of Berlin to take the necessary steps to set up an office for an independent representative for the interests of black people. This is a crucial step towards a fairer, more inclusive and more diverse society.