The Slovenian Advocate of the Principle of Equality expanding protection to other grounds of discrimination
Illustration by Maqué Studio
Equality Bodies that have a mandate extending beyond the EU equal treatment Directives, for instance including the ground of nationality, are better equipped to ensure equality and fair treatment for all.
In Slovenia, David, a third-country national, and his Slovenian wife, Ana, attempted to apply for a residence permit under family reunification rules. However, a public employee refused to process their application, alleging that their marriage was fictitious, without following the prescribed procedure to verify such claims.
The Advocate of the Principle of Equality investigated the case and found the refusal to be discriminatory, as it was based solely on the husband’s nationality. Following the Advocate’s intervention, the administrative unit implemented measures to prevent similar cases in the future, ensuring fairer procedures for all applicants.
Are you interested in knowing more about how Equality Bodies effectively fight discrimination expanding the list of protected grounds?
- In 2021 Equinet published a report called “Expanding the List of Protected Grounds within Anti-Discrimination Law in the EU“, authored by Sarah Ganty and Juan Carlos Sanchez Benito, which looks into how the expansion of the list of protected grounds in anti-discrimination law enhances the effectiveness of the anti-discrimination legal framework and its implementation.