Gender Equality Ombudsperson

Overview

Gender equality is one of the fundamental values of the constitutional order of the Republic of Croatia. In 2003, upon the proposal of the Croatian Government, the first ombudsperson for gender equality was appointed by the Croatian Parliament in accordance to the Gender Equality Act adopted in 2003 for the first time (Official Gazette 116/03).

Brief history

In 2008, Croatian Parliament adopted a new Gender Equality Act (Official Gazette 82/08) according to which the Gender Equality Ombudsperson performs the tasks of an independent body in charge of combating discrimination in the field of gender equality.

The responsibilities of the ombusperson for gender equality include:

1. receiving complaints from any natural persons or legal entities regarding discrimination in the area of gender equality;

2. providing assistance to natural and legal persons who filed a complaint of sexual discrimination when instituting legal proceedings;

3. taking steps to investigate individual complaints prior to the legal proceedings;

4. conducting, with the consent of the parties involved, a mediation process with a possibility to reach an out-of court settlement;

5. collecting and analysing statistical data on cases of sexual discrimination;

6. conducting independent surveys concerning discrimination, publishing independent reports and exchanging available information with corresponding European bodies.

The Gender Equality Ombudswoman acts in an independent manner, monitors the enforcement of the Gender Equality Law and other regulations on gender equality and reports to the Croatian Parliament at least once a year.

Governing laws and regulations

Mandate

Sectors covered

Private, Public

Legal standing before the courts

Intervention in support of a party

Functions

• 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 discriminatory advertising
• Networking with relevant entities in the country and internationally

Fields and grounds

Other grounds

Marital status, pregnancy and maternity.

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 office is headed by the head of office (Ombudswoman) and her deputy. It’s having also legal section (5 legal persons employed including head of section) and section for general affairs (2 persons employed including head of section) headed by the heads of these two sections. Yet two colleagues cover media and educational issues related to gender equality.

Procedure for nomination and appointment of management and board

Ombudsperson and her/his deputy is appointed by the parliament

Regional or Local offices

This institution does not have regional officies.

Accountability

National Parliament