20. Sep 2009
The laws
If you have been the victim of discrimination that is covered by the laws the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud enforces, you can complain to us.
In accordance with the Gender Equality Act and regulation (cf. link), the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud enforces:
Housing legislation:
The Anti-Discrimination Ombud Act:
If you feel that you have been discriminated against in on one or several of the above ways, you can complain to the Ombud or simply seek guidance via the telephone, e-mail or letter.
The Gender Equality Act
The Gender Equality Act forbids discrimination in the context of gender. The Gender Equality Act applies to all areas of society. The Ombud can however not enforce the law if the case relates to a purely private relationship. The Ombud may not, for instance, make a statement regarding to what extent a far has breached the Gender Equality Act by refusing to stay home with children when they are sick.
The Gender Equality Act makes an exception for internal conditions in faith communities. This means, simply, that it may be permitted to discriminate on the basis of gender if this is in keeping with the faith society’s belief and teaching. For instance, a Christian congregation could refuse to employ female priests, but when hiring a janitor or a Sunday school teacher the faith community must abide by the prohibition against discrimination in the law.
The Gender Equality Act
Gender discriminatory advertising:
Gender discriminatory advertising is regulated by the the Marketing Act §2, second paragraph. LDO does not enforce this law. Enquiries regarding gender discriminatory advertising must therefore be directed to the Consumer Ombud.
The Anti-Discrimination Act
The Anti-Discrimination Act states that it is forbidden to discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, background, skin colour, language, religion and philosophy. The Discrimination Act applies to all social areas with the exception of personal relationships. Faith and philosophical communities are excepted from the prohibition against discrimination on the grounds of religion and philosophy if it is important for the execution of the activity’s religious or philosophical purpose
The Working Environment Act
We also have regulations that forbid discrimination on certain grounds in the workplace. These grounds are political points of view, membership in a trade union, sexual orientation, disability and age.
Housing legislation
The housing legislation contains a ban on discrimination against a person on the grounds of homosexuality. This means, for instance, that a housing association cannot make decisions that forbid two people of the same gender from owning a unit. A home-owner is not allowed to refuse to rent to a homosexual person. In principle, the protection in the housing acts extends to just homosexuals and not to heterosexuals, as distinct from the Working Environment Act which protects both groups.
If you feel that you have been discriminated against in the context of one or several of these bases, you may send a complaint to the Ombud or just seek guidance by telephone, e-mail or letter.
The Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act
The act’s purpose is to promote equality and equal worth, ensure equal opportunities and rights for social participation for most people regardless of ability to function and prevent discrimination on the basis of disability.
The Anti-Discrimination and Accesibility Act (PDF).