An­ti­discrim­in­a­tion

As a tolerant and cosmopolitan university, it is a matter of course for Paderborn University to promote respectful interaction between all university members through various measures and to ensure that possible barriers and exclusion mechanisms on campus are dismantled. A central method for ensuring participation for all university members is strengthening protection against exclusion and other forms of discrimination.

This anti-discriminatory attitude is reflected in the working and study conditions at Paderborn University and manifests itself in the self-imposed guideline "Guideline for respectful cooperation and protection against disadvantage, discrimination, sexualised violence and mobbing at Paderborn University". This emphasises the importance of non-discriminatory and respectful interaction between all university members on campus.

At Paderborn University, there are already contact persons and contact points for the topic of (anti-)discrimination in many areas. Examples include the Equal Opportunities Officer, the Staff Council for Technical and Administrative Employees and the Staff Council for Academics, the Representative Council for the Severely Disabled, the AStA, the Student Advice Centre and the Complaints Office in accordance with §13 AGG. Generally, these contact persons and counselling services are explicitly responsible for a specific discrimination dimension or status group. The Diversity Officer is also the contact person for questions on the topic of diversity (and its promotion) and offers counselling in cases of discrimination and on how to organise everyday work and study life in a diversity-friendly way.

Anchoring the topic at Paderborn University

• Guideline for respectful cooperation and protection against discrimination, sexualised violence and mobbing at Paderborn University
• Overview of contact persons and complaint procedures in cases of discrimination at Paderborn University
• Complaint office according to §13 AGG at Paderborn University
• Conflict counselling, psychosocial counselling and conflict moderation for employees of Paderborn University
• Confidential counsellors for employees of Paderborn University
• Staff councils for employees of Paderborn University

Legal basis in the field of antidiscrimination

• Article 3 of the Basic Law (GG)
• General Equal Treatment Act (AGG)
• Higher Education Act of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Hochschulgesetz - HG NRW)
• Equal Opportunities Act of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (LGG)
• Equal Treatment Directives of the European Union

Useful information and tools in the field of antidiscrimination

• Digital "Discrimination-check up" of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency
• Overview of different forms of discrimination by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency
• FAQ on discrimination and discrimination characteristics of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency
• Tool for finding counselling centres nationwide
• Guideline "Building Blocks for Systematic Protection against Discrimination at Universities"
• Checklist "Discrimination-Free University - Creating Knowledge with Diversity"
• Final report on the project "Discrimination-Free University - Creating Knowledge with Diversity"

Helpful forms and information in the event of discrimination:

• Sample letter for a complaint according to § 13 AGG
• Materials for those seeking advice in cases of discrimination (e.g. memory log and form for recording acts of bullying)
• Materials for victims of discrimination
• Materials for counsellors in discrimination cases (e.g. form for describing the facts of a case and overview of the procedure for a complaint under the AGG)