The General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz) aims to prevent or stop discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual identity (§ 1 of the AGG).
Employees have the right to file a complaint with the appropriate grievance unit if they believe they have been discriminated against by their employer, supervisors, other staff members, or third parties in connection with their employment for any of the reasons set forth in Section 1 (§ 13.1 of the AGG. The Schleswig-Holstein Higher Education Act (HSG) specifies that the core rights of the AGG apply to all members and associates of the university (§ 14.7 HSG). This means that students, in particular, also have the right to lodge complaints and are entitled to protection against discrimination.
The university is obligated to ensure that the affected individuals and their supporters suffer no personal, professional, or academic disadvantages due to the complaint.
Anja Hansen
- Phone
- +49 461 805 2777
- anja.hansen-PleaseRemoveIncludingDashes-@uni-flensburg.de
- Building
- Gebäude Dublin
- Room
- DUB 009b
- Street
- Campusallee 3
- Post code / City
- 24943 Flensburg
Counseling
If you are considering initiating a grievance process, it is advisable to first seek confidential advice from the AGG Grievance Office, the Diversity Officer, or the university Equal Opportunities Officer in the Equal Opportunities Unit. Together, we can discuss your options and advise you on the grievance process. We are also happy to accompany and support you during the handling of your complaint.
Important note: A grievance procedure under the AGG is a formal university process. Unlike confidential counseling, the complainant does not have the right to confidential, anonymous handling of the complaint.
If indications of criminal actions and/or behavior relevant to disciplinary action arise during the course of an AGG grievance procedure, the Grievance Office must continue the procedure, even if the complainant has withdrawn their complaint.
The General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG) is Germany's central framework for implementing four European anti-discrimination directives issued since 2000.
The purpose of this Act is to prevent or to stop discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation..
(§1 of the AGG)
Europa-Universität Flensburg has laid down guidelines for interpersonal interactions in its General Code, where it also addresses the issue of discrimination. Members of EUF behave in ways that respect the dignity of others and oppose discriminatory statements and actions of any kind.
Members and associates of Europa-Universität Flensburg who feel affected in the sense of § 3 AGG have the right to seek advice and counsel. They must not suffer any personal, professional, or academic disadvantages for exercising this right to counsel. The same applies to individuals who support the affected persons during this process.
The AGG Grievance Office is the central unit for counseling and advice. The Diversity Officer and the Equal Opportunities Officer also offer counseling and advising.
External counseling centers on various aspects of discrimination
The Anti-Discrimination Association of Schleswig-Holstein (Antidiskriminierungsverband Schleswig-Holstein advsh) the State Anti-Discrimination Office of Schleswig-Holstein (Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Landes Schleswig-Holstein), and the German Federal Anti-Discrimination Office ( Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes) provide advice on all forms of discrimination under the AGG.
The following organizations also offer external counseling for specific forms of discrimination:
Age discrimination: Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (Link: antidiskriminierungsstelle.de).
Antisemitism: OFEK e.V. advising center for antisemitic violence and discrimination (Link: ofek-beratung.de)
Antiziganism/Gadje racism: MIA reporting and information center for antiziganism (Link: antiziganismus-melden.de)Hostility towards people with disabilities: Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (Link: antidiskriminierungsstelle.de)
Digital violence: HateAid counseling and support for those affected by digital violence (Link: hateaid.org)
Homophobia: Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (Link: antidiskriminierungsstelle.de)
Classism: Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (Link: antidiskriminierungsstelle.de)
Hostility towards Muslims: ZEBRA center for victims of right-wing attacks (Link: zebraev.de)
Rassismus: ZEBRA, Zentrum für Betroffene rechter Angriffe e. V. (Link: zebraev.de)
Sexualized violence and harassment: German federal association of women's counseling centers and women's emergency calls (Link: frauen-gegen-gewalt.de)
Trans* Inter* and non-binary hostility: "Read" project of the anti-discrimination counseling Hamburg (Link: adb-hamburg.de/read/)
University members have the right to file complaints if they experience discrimination within the university context or if they feel discriminated against for a reason set forth in § 1 of the AGG. They must not suffer any personal, professional, or academic disadvantages for exercising this right to complain. The same applies to individuals who support the affected persons during the grievance process.
Filing a Complaint:
- The complaint can be submitted in writing, or it can be verbally recorded at the Grievance Office.
- The complaint should comprehensively describe the incident, list possible witnesses and evidence, and, to the extent possible, note which other individuals have already been informed of the incidents and whether any actions have already been initiated.
- The staff of the AGG Grievance Office and the Equal Opportunities Office can help with drafting and submitting the complaint.
Grievance Procedure:
- Once the complaint has been submitted, the complainant will be informed about the next steps in the procedure. The need for any immediate measures, such as protective measures, will also be assessed at this point.
- A Grievance Team will be formed to clarify the facts. The team may involve other internal and external bodies during the complaint procedure.
- Promptly after receiving the complaint, the Grievance Team will conduct interviews with both the complainant and the person(s) against whom the complaint is directed. The team may request written statements, evidence, and interview witnesses.
- The Grievance Team will document all discussions; review the compiled interview transcripts, documents, and evidence; determine the facts of the case; and inform both parties of the outcome. The Grievance Team will then communicate its findings to the responsible member of the university's Executive Board (Präsidium) and suggest further actions.
The responsible member of the Executive Board or the administrative head of Europa-Universität Flensburg will decide on further actions and possible consequences.
The implementation of a grievance procedure does not preclude labor, civil service, and/or criminal prosecution. In such cases, the complaint team or the grievance office may suspend the grievance procedure.
For more information and contact points, visit the website of the German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency / Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes. The site also offers resources for individuals affected by discrimination and for those who seek advice. The website of the Anti-Discrimination Agency of Schleswig-Holstein / Antidiskriminierungsstelle Schleswig-Holstein also offers several helpful guides and explanations on the subject of discrimination.
The Anti-Discrimination Association of Schleswig-Holstein / Antidiskriminierungsverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V. (advsh) is a group of associations, institutions, organizations, and committed individuals. It provides information about discrimination and offers counseling.
Information and resources on sexualized discrimination and violence are available at Sexualized Discrimination and Violence / Sexualisierte Diskriminierung und Gewalt SGD in the "Equality" section.