Bodies for the promotion of equal treatment (Article 13 Directive 2000/43)

• Author: Hornich, Patricia
• Pages: 57-65

57

7 BODIES FOR THE PROMOTION OF EQUAL TREATMENT (Article 13 Directive

2000/43)

a) Body/bodies designated for the promotion of equal treatment irrespective of

racial/ethnic origin according to Article 13 of the Racial Equality Directive

Given that Directive 2000/43 has not been transposed into Liechtenstein law, no equality

bodies have been officially designated in accordance with Article 13. Nevertheless,

Liechtenstein has two main official institutions that are entrusted with tasks concerning a

broad spectrum of disadvantage and discrimination.

The Office for the Equality of Persons with Disabilities (Liechtensteiner Behinderten-

Verband – Büro für Gleichstellung)114 was set up by the Government in accordance with

Article 22 of the AEPD after the act entered into force in 2007. In implementation of the

act, the office has been established as an independent institution integrated into the

organisational set-up of the Liechtenstein Association of Persons with Disabilities.

As successor to the Office of Equal Opportunities (Stabsstelle für Chancengleichheit),115

the Association for Human Rights in Liechtenstein (Verein für Menschenrechte, VMR)116

was founded by 26 non-governmental organisations on 10 December 2016 as the

independent national human rights institution in Liechtenstein.117 The status of this

association and the relevant legal provisions had been laid down in a new law, the Act on

the Association for Human Rights in Liechtenstein (Gesetz über den Verein für

Menschenrechte in Liechtenstein, VMLG).118 This act entered into force on 1 January

2017, and the association became operational from that day. The Association for Human

Rights includes the Ombuds Office for Children and Young People, which was created in

2010 and acts as an independent, neutral, and universally accessible contact and

complaints office on child and youth issues, as provided for by the Act on Children and

Youth (ACY). One of its specific responsibilities is to monitor implementation of the UN

Convention on the Rights of the Child. Where children’s rights are violated, the Ombuds

Office may conduct investigations, submit complaints to the competent bodies and

suggest improvements. The following information on the Association for Human Rights

therefore also covers the Ombuds Office for Children and Young People.

The new association acts independently and brings together various tasks which had

previously been performed by different governmental offices and NGOs in Liechtenstein.

These tasks are:

• advising authorities and private individuals on human rights issues;

• counselling people who feel violated in their rights and suppo rting victims of human

rights violations;

• informing the public about the human rights situation in Liechtenstein;

• conducting investigations and recommending appropriate measures to authorities

and private individuals;

• giving opinions on draft laws and regulations and on the ratification of international

conventions;

• promoting dialogue and national/international cooperation with human rights

bodies.

114 Office for the Equality of Persons with Disabilities. See http://www.lbv.li/Buero-Gleichstellung.php.

115 The former Office of Equal Opportunities, which was created under Article 22 of the AEWM, was dissolved in

2016.

116 Association for Human Rights in Liechtenstein. See https://www.menschenrechte.li/category/ueber-uns/.

117 As Dire ctive 2000/43 has not been transposed in Liechtenstein, the body has not been officially designated

in accordance with Article 13.

118 Act on the Association for Human Rights in Liechtenstein (Gesetz über den Verein für Menschenrechte in

Liechtenstein, VMRG), 4 November 2016, LGBl. 2016, No. 504, available at:

https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2016504000?version=1.