Lithuanian Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman

Date established:

25 May 1999

Mode of establishment:

Decision of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (25-05-1999, Nr. VIII-1200)

Status:

Independent public institution, answerable to the Parliament (Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men (1 December 1998, Nr. VIII-947) English version available on the web:

http://www3.lrs.lt/cgi-bin/preps2?Condition1=220981&Condition2

Mandate/objectives:

The implementation of the Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men and the Law on Equal Treatment shall be supervised by the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman (as stated in Article 10 of the Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men and in Article 12 of the Law on Equal Treatment)

The Ombudsman may investigate the actions of (1) state and administrative institutions; (2) educational and scientific institutions; (3) employers; (4) salespersons, producers and service providers (as set in Articles 3, 4, 5, 5⁽¹⁾ of the Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men and Articles 3, 4, 5, 6 of the Law on Equal Treatment)

The Ombudsman shall investigate complaints relating to direct and indirect discrimination and sexual harassment. The Ombudsman shall report on the implementation of both laws and submit recommendations to state, government and administrative institutions of the Republic of Lithuania concerning the revision of legal acts and policy priorities for the implementation of equal rights (as stated in Article 12 of the Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men)

Both private and public bodies are subject to the competence of the Ombudsman.

Grounds of Discrimination covered:

Sex; age; sexual orientation; disability; race and ethnic origin; religion; beliefs; and other grounds foreseen in the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and international instruments, for example social origin, which is set forth in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (no thorough investigation of the treaties has been done yet).

Competences and responsibilities:

Upon the completion of the investigation, the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman may take a decision to:

1) refer the material to investigative bodies if indications of an offence have been established;

2) address to the appropriate person or institution a recommendation to discontinue the actions violating equal opportunities or to repeal a relevant legal act;

3) hear cases concerning administrative offences and impose administrative sanctions;

4) dismiss the complaint if the violations referred to have not been corroborated;

5) discontinue the investigation if the complainant withdraws the complaint or if there is a lack of objective data on the alleged violation;

6) issue a notice of a violation. This may be regarded as an aggravating factor if the person commits further violations;

7) temporarily suspend the investigation of the complaint, if the person whose complaint or actions are under investigation is ill or out of office  (as stated in Article 24 of the Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men)

Main activities:

• investigate complaints on grounds referred to above (70 complaints per year);
• investigate on own initiative, for instance when violations of equal opportunities are discovered through information in the media or from other sources (20 per year);
• monitor legal acts and workplace practices;
• initiate administrative procedures (impose administrative fines on violators);
• disseminate information;
• provide advice;
• monitor job recruitment and admissions to educational institutions; monitor discriminatory advertisements in the media;
• establish dialogue with non-governmental organisations;
• initiate projects, such as “Modern Men in Enlarged Europe: Developing Innovative Gender Equality Strategies” (2004-2005); Improved Democracy Through Gender Balanced Decision Making Process in Local Administrations in Lithuania (2003-2005); Expansion of Equal Opportunities (2002);
• make recommendations to competent bodies on the implementation of equal opportunities and legal acts.

Publications:

Regular publications:

Annual Report (available only in Lithuanian)  

Ad hoc publications:

- Comparative Analysis of Gender Equality Structures (2004, http://www.gender-equality.webinfo.lt);

- Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in School (in Lithuanian only, 2002);

- Sexual Harassment – What Is It? (in Lithuanian only, 2002);

- Equal Opportunities: Towards Tolerance (2002, in Lithuanian only);

- Brochures on various topics (available only in Lithuanian from the Office). 

Management:

The Head of the Office is the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman.

Nomination of senior staff and board:

The Equal Opportunities Ombudsman is appointed by the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania for a 4-year (renewable) term..

Number of Staff:

9 (4 advisors, 4 specialists, 1 financial manager)

Budget:

The budget of the Office is approved by Parliament under the procedure set forth in the Law on the Formation of the State Budget.

2005 budget: 784.000 Litas (ca. € 227 000).

Accountability:

An annual Report to Parliament, as required by the Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men.

Address:

Lygiu galimybiu kontrolieriaus tarnyba

Seimyniskiu str. 1A

LT-09312 Vilnius

Lithuania

Phone +370 5 2612740 / 5 2612787

Fax +370 5 2612725

Info e-mail: mvlgk@lrs.lt