BIM Annual Report 2008 - Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für ...

BIM Annual Report 2008
Antidiscrimination, Asylum and Migration
Vielfalt.Respekt.Recht – Information brochure for the Ombud of Equal Treatment
Summary
The Federal Law on Equal Treatment was amended in 2004 due to Austria’s obligation to transpose
EU Directives 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC. The Act prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender,
ethnic belonging, religion or belief, age, and sexual orientation in employment. Discrimination on the
ground of ethnic belonging is also forbidden in the areas of social protection (including social security
and health care), social advantages, education as well as access to and supply of publicly available
goods and services (including housing). At the same time the competences of the Ombud of Equal
Treatment, which has been responsible for the equal treatment of women and men in employment,
were extended to the grounds and areas mentioned above.
The brochure, which was drafted on behalf of the Ombud of Equal Treatment, presents the new scope
of the Equal Treatment Act as well as the additional competences of the Ombud of Equal Treatment.
The brochure targets public and non-state actors involved in legal and social counselling as well as
members of workers’ councils. Furthermore, it addresses people interested in the issue of equal treatment.
The brochure gathers cases of discrimination based on different grounds and in different areas covered
by the Equal Treatment Act. These examples show which forms of discrimination are prohibited
and which areas are covered by legislation. The brochure offers guidance on how individuals can
counter prejudices and discrimination. Another focus is on victims of discrimination: What can be done
in case of discrimination, what kinds of claims can be substantiated and what can be achieved.
Important resources for this project were the reports drafted by the Ombud of Equal Treatment, the
cases reported to the Litigation Association of NGOs Against Discrimination as well as ZARA – Zivilcourage
und Anti-Rassismus-Arbeit and the reports of the RAXEN Focal Point for Austria.
Country
Persons
involved
Austria
Researchers
Katharina Köhler
Marta Hodasz
Barbara Liegl
Contact person
Barbara Liegl, barbara.liegl@univie.ac.at
Lead
organisation
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute
of Human Rights –
Research Association
Partner
organisations
Ombud for Equal
Treatment
Litigation Association of
NGOs Against
Discrimination
Starting/
end date
February to November 2008
Funded by
Federal Ministry for Women, Media and Regional Policies
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