Greek Ombudsman
GREECE: Greek Ombudsman
- Overview
The Greek Ombudsman is the national equality body with a mandate to combat discrimination and promote the principle of equal treatment irrespective of gender, racial or ethnic origin, family or social status, religion or belief, disability or chronic illness, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Brief history
The Greek Ombudsman is a constitutionally established Independent Authority. It has been in operation since October 1, 1998 and provides its services free of charge.
The Greek Ombudsman mediates between public administration and citizens in order to help citizens in exercising their rights effectively. Additionally, the Greek Ombudsman’s mission is:
• to safeguard and promote children’s rights;
• to combat discrimination and promote the principle of equal treatment irrespective of gender, racial or ethnic origin, family or social status, religion or belief, disability or chronic illness, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.The most recent amendment of the national legal framework for equal treatment, with Law 4443/2016, assigned to the Greek Ombudsman the overall competence against discrimination, extending its competencies to both the public and the private sector in the field of employment for all grounds of discrimination.
The previous major milestones, in terms of the Greek Ombudsman’s mandate with regard to equal treatment, are the following:
• Law 3304/2005, in compliance with Council Directives 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC: For the implementation and promotion of the principle of equal treatment irrespective of race or national origin, religion or other beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation in the public sector;
•Law 3769/2009, in compliance with Council Directive 2004/113/EC: For the monitoring and promotion of the implementation of the principle of equal treatment between men and women as regards access to goods and services in the public sector;
• Law 3896/2010 in compliance with Council directive 2006/54/EC: For the monitoring of the implementation of the principle of equal treatment between men and women in both the private and public sectors.- Mandate type
- Predominantly tribunal-type (quasi-judicial) body
- Litigation powers
- Formally deciding on complaints (e.g. decision or recommendation addressed to the parties) Not legally binding
- Activities
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Activities aimed at supporting vulnerable groups (e.g. through trainings) yes yes yes yes yes yes no no no no Communication activities (e.g. awareness raising campaigns) yes yes yes yes yes yes no no no no Recommendations on discrimination issues yes yes yes yes yes yes no no no no Publications and reports yes yes yes yes yes yes no no no no - Other statistics
-
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Number of inquiries handled per year (all contact even if not resulting in a formal complaint) no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data Number of cases handled per year (case files opened and processed according to your procedures) 285 321 314 425 567 451 573 no data no data no data Number of media appearances per year (major newspapers/magazines/websites/blogs, TV + radio channels) - does not include social media no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data - Management
- Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)
- Management details
The Greek Ombudsman is supported by 6 Deputy Ombudsmen who head the following departments:
Department of Human Rights;
Department of Health and Social Welfare;
Department of the Quality of Life (environment, urban planning, land use, public works, etc.);
Department of State-Citizen Relations (quality of services provided, maladministration),
Department of Children’s Rights;
Department of Equal Treatment.- Number of staff dealing with equality issues
-
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 8 8 8 10 15 15 no data no data no data no data - Grounds and fields of discrimination covered by the equality body
Grounds / Fields Employment Education Housing Social Protection & Healthcare Goods & Services Other Gender yes yes yes yes yes Gender Identity yes yes yes yes yes Race and Ethnic Origin yes yes yes yes yes Age yes no no no no In the public sector the Greek Ombudsman can intervene on all other fields (i.e. education, housing, social protection & healthcare, goods & services) under his general mandate regarding the protection of rights Disability yes no no no no In the public sector the Greek Ombudsman can intervene on all other fields (i.e. education, housing, social protection & healthcare, goods & services) under his general mandate regarding the protection of rights Sexual Orientation yes no no no no In the public sector the Greek Ombudsman can intervene on all other fields (i.e. education, housing, social protection & healthcare, goods & services) under his general mandate regarding the protection of rights Religion & Belief yes no no no no In the public sector the Greek Ombudsman can intervene on all other fields (i.e. education, housing, social protection & healthcare, goods & services) under his general mandate regarding the protection of rights Other grounds : Family or social status
- 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
Main Informations
Related News
Greek Ombudsman requests legal recognition of gender identity, while respecting the rights of transgender people
The Ombudsman calls for immediate adoption of swift, transparent, accessible procedures for the change of identity card and other identification documents of transgender people.
Equinet Calendar 2018
Equality bodies assist victims of discrimination in a wide variety of ways. This calendar highlights some of the work that our members do to promote equal treatment in their respective countries
