Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson

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 13 prohibited grounds of discrimination: gender, race, nationality, language, origin, 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.

Mandate Type

Predominantly tribunal-type (quasi-judicial) body

Litigation power:

• Formally deciding on complaints (e.g. decision or recommendation addressed to the parties) legally binding
• Formally deciding on complaints (e.g. decision or recommendation addressed to the parties) Not legally binding

Activities

Our institution has a mandate to deal with:

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• Freedom of movement for workers

Other statistics:

Management

• Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)

Number of staff dealing with equality issues

Grounds and fields of discrimination covered by the equality body

Language, Origin, Conviction and views, Social status, Nationality

Mandate covers:

• Public sector
• Private sector

Operating budget in euros

Operating budget in euros for the parts of the organisation dealing with equality issues (all types of functions)

We are accountable to

• National Parliament