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Mrs. CALLIOPE SPANOU (Ombudsman of Greece)
First of all, I would like to thank you for the invitation to speak at the
3 International Symposium. I was here two years ago and I follow
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with a lot of interest from our neighbor and a colleague side the
developments in the Turkish ombudsman.

So, our first subject is women’s rights, what can the ombudsman do to
combat gender discrimination. All kinds of discrimination on various
grounds are a big test for a society and for the legal culture. So, the
main problem is often that legal rules may sometimes be in advance
of social perceptions, prejudice, stereotypes and this may be a real
hindrance a real obstacle for the respect of women’s rights.

Especially for gender discrimination a main problem is the fact that
the stereotypes have shaped gender inequality as a natural difference.
And in that framework any legislative initiative will remain inadequate
if the real reasons in society of these discriminations are not dealt with.
And what can we do from our side? Investigating cases of violation of
gender equality by public service has been a substantial part of the
Greek Ombudsman but one that cuts across many policy fields. You
can find cases of discrimination in the field of taxation, recruitment
either in the public sector but also beyond, social security, labor
relations and more.

Now this has been a part of the mandate of the Greek Ombudsman
as an ombudsman but also human rights institutions from the start.
But since 2006, the European and Greek legislation have enhanced
the Greek Ombudsman beyond the constitution, beyond the general
principles of human rights. It is a serious piece of legislation at national
level following developments of the EU level have broaden the field of
the ombudsman intervention. According to the EU directive relative
to this issue at every member state had to appoint an independent
body to provide assistance to victims of discrimination, investigate
whether the principle of equal treatments applied and publish report
recommending measures to eradicate gender discrimination. So,
Greek Ombudsman became also an equality body promoting the
principle of equal treatment in the public sector but also a body
monitoring the implementation of the principle of equal treatment in
labor issues in employment and in the supply of goods and services.

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