Special Commission on Anti-Discrimination presents report

Among other things, it is suggested that the ways in which people who have experienced discrimination can obtain support should be made more visible. "The special commission agrees that the university should establish structures for complaints procedures that provide comprehensive and uniform regulations for all university members," said commission chair Professor Jürgen Bode, Vice President International Affairs and Diversity.

President Hartmut Ihne praised the work of the commission. The report has provided impetus that now needs to be discussed. The findings will be used to further develop the university's diversity system.

Background: The commission was set up in June 2023 as a special commission of the President's Office after allegations of discrimination by a female student against a professor became public. These allegations were investigated independently of the commission's work as part of formal proceedings, which have since been concluded.

The aim of the special commission was to present proposals for improving the diversity system, in particular complaints management, at H-BRS - both organisationally and in terms of processes and preventative measures. The commission consisted of 13 internal university members from various departments who contributed their respective professional and personal perspectives on the topic. The Student Body was also represented. There was also an external expert: Professor Karim Fereidooni from Ruhr University Bochum, who specialises in anti-racism and anti-discrimination.