Strengthening anti-discrimination efforts

The government has increased the resources of the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud in 2009 by NOK 9 million in order to combat discrimination of people with disabilities and to strengthen existing anti-discrimination provisions. An additional NOK 4 million has been allocated for a new action plan against ethnic discrimination.

The Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act entered into force 1 January 2009. The new act and the existing Anti-discrimination Act are supplemented by a duty for public authorities, employers in public and private sector and employee and employer organisations to make  active, targeted and systematic efforts to promote the purpose of the Acts. The duty to make active efforts is followed by a duty to give an accont of the measures that have been implemented and measures which are planned to be implemented. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud will enforce both laws and follow up on the duty to make active efforts and to report.

- It's important that we work with determination to achieve equality and prevent discrimination of people with disabilities. We will coordinate efforts to counter several different aspects of discrimination and it will be the responsibility of leaders to follow matters out, says Minister of Children and Equality Anniken Huitfeldt.

The government will submit its action plan against ethnic discrimination in the spring of 2009. The plan will be designed to prevent and combat both direct and indirect discrimination. The plan will be directed primarily toward discrimination in employment  and in public services. The government is cooperating with the employee and employer organisation around measures in the plan.

-The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud plays an important role in promoting equality for women. The ombud's efforts also include ethnic minorities and now persons with disabilities. Participation and equality are important in all areas of society, but especially in the workplace. Having access to salaried work is important to an individual's quality of life. It's also a strategy that pays off economically in society, says Minister Huitfeldt.