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reasons are valid and whether the employer had the possibility to
protect these woman during this vulnerable time and to someone else
to dismiss or if he has done it on purpose to dismiss them exactly
because they were during this maternity period.
So, these are the types of cases in the social sphere. And we come to
the last one, the sexual harassment which is the most difficult I would
say because it touches upon the private sphere and private relations.
Sometimes it is even more difficult to have enough evidence in order
to shift the burden of proof but when we do have this start of the
evidence which makes likely the discrimination then we can investigate
more efficiently and have again sanctions for this employer always
before we reach the court, the courts are always there but it’s the next
step. But still it is the nature of this problem makes things much more
difficult because sometimes there are no witnesses or it is the word of
one side against the word of the other. So, I would say that this is the
most sensitive part.

I would finish, hopefully I am okay with my time, by saying that this
area of the ombudsman competence requires particular attention
and systematic monitoring. The biggest problem comes from society
and prejudice and stereotypes. But we gradually develop the legal
instruments to deal with that and we can provide the hope that this
legislate the framework at some point will be sufficiently sophisticated
in order to reach its goals. Thank you very much.

CHAIR: I would like to thank Mrs. Calliope Spanou for this interesting
presentation on women rights. You referred to interesting cases and
examples. I hope we will give more chance to talk to Mrs. Spanou, thanks
to your questions.
The second speaker is Juris Jansons, Ombudsman of Latvia, who will talk
about Ombudsman and the rights of the persons with disabilities.

Your duration is 2 minutes.

JURIS JANSONS (Ombudsman of Latvia)
Thank you Chair. Thank you and for saving the time. I am starting
immediately.

rd
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