Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson of the Republic of Lithuania

Overview

Our mission is to ensure implementation of equal opportunities and prevention of discrimination in society.
Our vision is a society that is aware of equal opportunities and strives to ensure them.
Our values are professionalism, impartiality, openness, courage, efficiency.

Brief history

Lithuanian Parliament adopted the Republic of Lithuania Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men on 1 December 1998. This law came into effect on 1 March 1999. The first Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson was appointed on 20 April 1999. The Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson was established on 25 May 1999 by the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania.
On 1 January 2005, a new Law on Equal Treatment came into force. Ombudsperson’s mandate was extended and guaranteed the right to file complaints to the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson in cases of discrimination on grounds of age, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnic origin, religion or beliefs. When the Law on Equal Treatment came into force, the Office name changed to the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson and the Ombudsperson’s job title was changed to the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson. At present, the Law on Equal Treatment establishes 14 prohibited grounds of discrimination: gender, race, nationality, language, origin, citizenship, social status, belief, convictions or views, age, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin or religion.
The Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson is a budgetary institution financed from the state budget. Ombudsperson, by proposal from the Speaker of the Seimas, is assigned for a term of five years by secret voting in Parliament. Ombudsperson is accountable to Parliament and is responsible for the enforcement of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men and the Law on Equal Treatment.

Governing laws and regulations

Mandate

Sectors covered

Private, Public

Legal standing before the courts

Bringing proceedings in the name of the equality body [with or without an identifiable victim], Amicus curiae brief or similar

Functions

• Making legally binding decisions on claims of discrimination
• Making recommendations on claims of discrimination [or other decisions on the merit that are not legally binding]
• Undertaking ex-officio investigations
• 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 grounds

Language, citizenship (EU, EEA and their family members), Origin, Social status includes family status.

Other functions

Addressing violence against women, Addressing hate speech

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)

field_management_details

Regional or Local offices

This institution does not have regional officies.

Accountability

National Parliament