Overview
- Provides legal advice and support for persons who feel discriminated against,
- Supports people to assert their right to equal treatment,
- Provides information about Equal Treatment law
- Documents discrimination
- The Ombuds service is confidential and free of cost
Brief history
Date of establishment: 01.01.1991, based on Equal Treatment Act, BGBl Nr. 410/1990;
- Legal basis since 2004: Equal Treatment Act and Act relating to the Ombud for Equal Treatment and the Equal Treatment Commission, BGBl. Nr. 98/2008;
- Status: Office of the Federal Chancellery with an amendment of the Austrian Federal Ministries Act BGBl I Nr. 11/2014; independent with regard to legal competences and information
Governing laws and regulations
Type of document
Law; Act
Mandate
Sectors covered
Private
Functions
- Organising training, advising and capacity-building activities for particular stakeholders on meeting their obligations
- Organising awareness raising and communication activities
- Advising government on the development, adoption and amendment of law and policy
- Monitoring national law and policy from an equality perspective
- Carrying out specialist research on equality and non-discrimination
- Reporting to national and international bodies on discrimination issues
- Networking with relevant entities in the country and internationally
Fields and grounds
Other mandates of the institution
Standalone dedicated national equality body
Institution
Management and Appointments
Management
Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)
The organisation is managed by a director. The three divisions of Equal Treatment between Women and Men in Employment and Occupation, Equal Treatment irrespective of Ethnic Origin, Religion or Belief, Age or Sexual Orientation in Employment and Occupation and Equal Treatment irrespective of Ethnic Origin and Gender in other areas are managed by their respective Ombuds. The regional offices are managed by Regional Ombuds. The organisation consists of a central office with three divisions and legal competences for five discrimination grounds and of four regional offices with legal competences for equal treatment between women and men in employment.
Procedure for nomination and appointment of management and board
The ombuds are appointed by the Federal Chancellor.
Regional or Local offices
4
Accountability
National Parliament