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Now I would like to make to propose a kind classification, good types
of complaints and good types of intervention for the ombudsman. I
think that we can have three broad categories. The first category of
complaints has to do with equal treatment as a matter of principal.
In reality this has to do with laws and regulations that include
discrimination without even no realizing that this is discrimination.
And in my view this concerns the public sphere.
The second group we could say it concerns the social sphere. It
has to do with equal treatment as a matter of implementation of
the principles on the ground and eventual violation of rights at a
workplace or the extension of rights for example, sharing family
responsibilities etc.
The third group of complaints is those who that have to do with the
public sphere. And they have to do with a right of a person’s integrity.
And their equal treatment is a matter of respect and the main issue we
face is sexual harassment.
Now in all these areas we have quite a number of cases. I’ll refer to
some cases of the first group those referring to problems that are
the result of rules and regulations and need to change, rules and
regulations that in some way based on stereotypes. One characteristic
case was the exclusion of women from participating in vocational
training courses for certain professions such as carpenters, oil painters
and welders. The reason that these happened as the man-power
employment organization has provided, they said that they had other
calls for such vocational training where many woman had participated
and given that now they had a quota for men than for these specific
professions they had to practically exclude women. So, you see that
these stereotypes find always a way to get in. But the interesting thing
is that they sometimes do not have this absolute expression but there
is a little bit of stereotype and a little bit of opportunity. For example,
other cases for recruitment at the fire department there were and
specifically for vehicle drivers out of 138 posts 3 were open to women
and the reason that was put forward was that in some cases the drivers
should help fire fighters so they have to have the muscular capacity to
help them, but if that is the case then why 3? Why for 3 cases that
is not correct. So, it is not even consistent. In both these cases the
ombudsman has intervened and the regulations have changed.

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164 | 3 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTIONS