"We know this is just the tip of the iceberg," explained ZARA Managing Director Rita Isiba on Thursday at a press conference, pointing out that the number of unreported cases is significantly higher. During the presentation of the Racism Report 2024, the counseling center particularly called for measures against racist discrimination in healthcare.

Racism Report 2024: ZARA Warns "Racism Makes You Sick"

More than half of the reported racist incidents (61 percent) involved online racism. What happens online also has offline effects, emphasizes Isiba. 13 percent of the reports in 2024 related to racist incidents in public spaces, a quarter of which were racist graffiti on house walls, memorials, or public facilities. The focus of this year's Racism Report is on racist discrimination in healthcare.

"Racism makes you sick and this is not a metaphor," said Isiba. On one hand, numerous studies show that the stress resulting from racist experiences can lead to chronic illnesses such as diabetes, mental illnesses, or high blood pressure. On the other hand, migrants are often not taken seriously and misdiagnosed in medical facilities. For example, skin diseases are almost exclusively shown on lighter skin in textbooks, and therefore often misdiagnosed in people with darker skin.

Majority of Racism Cases Go Unreported

Language barriers lead to further disadvantages. According to studies, 86 percent of those affected do not report incidents because it is additionally burdensome, said the ZARA Managing Director. Furthermore, complaint mechanisms and safe spaces are lacking. "Racism is not an individual problem, but a societal challenge," Isiba appeals to the federal government, medical associations, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. In addition to a National Action Plan against Racism, ZARA demands that racism be addressed in medical education, that there be contact points for those affected, and systematic research on racism in healthcare.

(APA/Red)

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