Indicator history

Legal support is best available for victims of ethnic discrimination, since they can contact the Office of the Ombudsman for Minorities. The Ombudsman for Minorities offers advice, guidance and takes action when necessary. He/she may assist in filing a complaint to the National Discrimination Tribunal, help to seek legal aid from public legal aid offices and private lawyers. As a rule, the Office of the Ombudsman for Minoritites does not give any legal aid, but in an exceptional case he/she may aid a customer subjected to discrimination in court. This requires that the case is of great importance from the viewpoint of preventing ethnic discrimination.

All victims of discrimination and work discrimination may report the case to the police for investigation. Discrimination and work discrimination are offences subject to public prosecution, and the victim is entitled to legal aid for court proceedings from the public legal aid office.  In addition, all victims of discrimination, may contact the public legal aid offices for advice and support.

In employment discrimination, the victims may also contact the Occupational Safety and Health Authorities for support and advice. If the Occupational Safety and Health Authorities consider that there are propable grounds to suspect that work descrimination, as defined in the Criminal Code, has taken place, they must report it to the public prosecutor for consideration of charges. In cases where there are grounds to suspect that work discrimination, as defined in the Non-Discrimination Act, has taken place, the Occupational Safety and Health Authorities will advice the victim how to initiate civil proceedings and obtain legal aid.