Overview
- Equality Minister Josefine Paul presented the Landesantidiskriminierungsgesetz draft in Düsseldorf and said it will enter a stakeholder hearing before being introduced in the Landtag.
- The proposal would apply to state institutions such as schools, universities and tax offices but not to municipal authorities, positioning NRW as the first non-city state to pursue such a law.
- Protected grounds include antisemitic or racist attributions, nationality, origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation and age, as set out in the draft catalogue of characteristics.
- Procedurally, the draft foresees eased evidentiary rules without reversing the burden of proof, prioritizes corrective remedies before damages, and directs any compensation claims against the state rather than individual officials.
- Support is broad in the governing CDU–Green coalition and the SPD urges a robust design and swift action, while the AfD rejects the plan as institutionalized mistrust of civil servants.