The number of reports of discrimination has increased significantly in Brabant in the past year. The increase is reflected in discrimination based on skin color or origin, but also because of gender, disability or sexual preference. The police even saw the number of cases involving discrimination in East Brabant more than double.
The figures come from anti-discrimination agency Radar and the police. This concerns the number of people who have reported to an anti-discrimination facility (ADV) in the municipality where they live. The agency also collected the figures of incidents in which, according to the police, there was discrimination. In most cases this concerns origin or sexual orientation.
Towns
In the Zeeland & West Brabant region, the number of people reporting discrimination increased by 20 percent compared to 2022. The vast majority of reports come from cities such as Breda and Tilburg. In East Brabant, the number of reports and registrations rose to a total of 358, an increase of 59 percent compared to the previous year. Most reports were made in Eindhoven. This involved 140 reports of discrimination and 219 incidents that the police believed were related.
Discrimination in the labor market or workplace
More than half of the reports concern discrimination in the workplace or ‘controversial treatment’, such as with Liz*. She is an employee in a sports store and developed serious fatigue complaints after seven weeks of pregnancy. “That’s why I wanted to take it a bit easier. I had read that there was an arrangement for this, but this request was rejected, because no one had ever had these complaints so early in the pregnancy, they said.”
Liz contacted an ADV. They pointed out to the company that the duration of a pregnancy did not play a role. Her working hours have now been adjusted.
Top 3 background of discrimination:
- Origin or skin color
- Disability and/or a chronic illness
- Sexual orientation
In half of all cases, discrimination concerns skin color or origin. Such as Hasna* who works as an assistant at a general practice. There, a patient did not want to be helped by her because of the headscarf Hasna was wearing. “Fortunately my employer supported me. The patient has received a letter with an urgent request to find another GP.”
Top 5 places where discrimination is experienced:
- Labor market and collective facilities (e.g. sports and culture)
- Public or political opinion
- Housing and commercial services
- Public space
- Education
Since it only concerns registered and reported cases, the actual number is many times higher, according to Radar. More than one in four Dutch people experience discrimination, but only 3 percent report it. Radar wants the notifications to be made easier and more accessible. In addition, the agency wants to focus on more education, information and prevention.
*Liz and Hasna are not their real names for privacy reasons.
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