On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the National Discrimination and Racism Monitor (NaDiRa) hosted a specialist event in Berlin to mark its fifth anniversary. Representatives from academia, politics, administration and civil society came together to reflect on the Monitor's developments to date, discuss research findings and outline prospects for the coming years.
Five years of NaDiRa - recording racism, moving politics
Program
18:00 - Welcome and introduction
Dr. Cihan Sinanoğlu (Head of NaDiRa)
Dr. Sinanoğlu presented the origins and development of NaDiRa since 2020 and explained the tasks of the monitor. NaDiRa collects data on racism in various areas of society - including work, education, housing and health - and makes it available for research, politics and administration.
"Racism is not a marginal issue - it is one of the future issues of our democracy. NaDiRa shows that change is possible when science, politics and civil society act together. With reliable data, differentiated analyses and the perspective of those affected, the monitor helps to objectify social debates, enable evidence-based decisions and translate responsibility into concrete measures."
18:15 - Impulse
Prof. Dr. Mehrdad Payandeh (Bucerius Law School Hamburg)
Prof. Dr. Payandeh explained the role of the NaDiRa from the perspective of international law. The work of the monitor is in line with the recommendations of the UN Committee against Racism (CERD), which calls for the systematic collection of differentiated data. Through NaDiRa, Germany can contribute to the fulfillment of international reporting obligations.
"From an international perspective and especially from the point of view of the UN Committee against Racism, the NaDiRa is an important achievement. It contributes to the fulfillment of Germany's obligations under international law and thus also to the country's international reputation and credibility. At the same time, it supports civil society actors in making discrimination visible and provides policymakers with a reliable basis for evidence-based decisions."
18:30 - Panel discussion with audience round table
Participants:
Thomas Heppener, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Helge Lindh, Member of the Bundestag (SPD)
Max Landero, State Secretary for Integration, Anti-Discrimination and Diversity, Berlin
Dr. Jannes Jacobsen (Deputy Scientific Director DeZIM)
Natalie Pawlik, Anti-Racism Commissioner of the Federal Government
Moderation: Gilda Sahebi
In the discussion, the findings of the NaDiRa to date were discussed and their significance for politics and administration. In particular, the discussion focused on how scientific results can be integrated even more strongly into political decision-making processes. The importance of dialogue with affected communities was also emphasized in order to promote trust in research and institutions. Another focus was the long-term financing of the Monitor.
19:30 - Reception
Exchange and networking
The reception provided an opportunity for discussions and professional exchange between the participants from science, politics and practice.
Background: The NaDiRa
The National Discrimination and Racism Monitor (NaDiRa) was founded in 2020 to create a reliable empirical basis for analyzing racism and discrimination in Germany. The attacks in Halle and Hanau and social debates in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests were among the reasons for this. The Monitor follows the Federal Government's mandate to systematically record racism as a social reality.
Tasks and structures:
Regular reports on attitudes and experiences of discrimination
NaDiRa panel: longitudinal survey of people who experience racism
Cooperation with science and civil society
Collection of data in the areas of work, education, housing and health
The German Council of Science and Humanities has confirmed the scientific quality and social relevance of the monitor and recommended permanent funding.
Conclusion
Over the past five years, NaDiRa has established itself as an important scientific and institutional basis for the analysis of racism in Germany. By combining research, data analysis and cooperation, it supports politics, administration and civil society in understanding developments based on evidence and developing measures appropriately.
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