BERLIN, Dec 15 (AFP) - New legislation to be submitted to parliament by the German government next month will allow anyone discriminated against because of their skin colour, gender or religion, to sue for damages.
"People discriminated against are no longer just victims, they can now demand their rights with confidence," said Irmingard Schewe-Gerigk, the women's affairs spokeswoman for the Greens who form the governing coalition with the Social Democratic Party, as she outlined the content of the law on Wednesday.
The proposed legislation would mean, for example, that the owners of apartments can no longer stipulate that foreigners and Muslims cannot rent their property.
"Newspaper ads saying things such as 'No Jews or handicapped people' will be banned," said Volker Beck, the general secretary of the Greens' parliamentary group.
The legislation would also require insurance companies to justify why their policies differ according to a person's gender or sexual orientation.
"It will no longer be possible for health insurers to refuse cover to homosexuals on the grounds that they belong to a group at high risk of HIV," Beck added.
Women will also be able to seek damages if they can prove they receive less pay for the same job as a male colleague. And if the policy is applied across a company, then a union will be able to take legal action.
Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries said the new legislation would simplify the process of sueing for discrimination.
"This solution offers those concerned efficient protection against discrimination without getting involved in the bureaucracy of employment law."
The law would bring Germany into line with European Union guidelines on discrimination.
041215
AF041276
©AFP 2004.. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission. http://www.afp.com/
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1990, 2004 - AEGiS. AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
