The definition of discrimination

• Author: Hornich, Patricia
• Pages: 19-28

19

2 THE DEFINITION OF DISCRIMINATION

2.1 Grounds of unlawful discrimination explicitly covered

Gender and disability are the two grounds of discrimination that are explicitly prohibited

in the main legislation transposing and implementing the two EU anti-discrimination

directives, as listed in the introduction.

Besides gender (covered by the Act on Equality between Women and Men),52 disability

(under the Act on Equality of People with Disabilities)53 is the only ground that is

explicitly covered by specific anti-discrimination law in Liechtenstein.

Furthermore, the fourth sentence in § 283(1) of the Criminal Code54 includes a

comprehensive prohibition against discrimination on the grounds of:

• language;

• nationality;

• ethnic origin;

• ideology;55

• gender;

• disability;

• age;

• sexual orientation.56

It is also punishable to refuse to provide a service intended to be provided to the general

public to a person or group of persons on the grounds referred to above.

The Act on the Media (AM)57 declares that media content will be considered to be illegal if

it incites or supports discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, gender, religion, age,

disability or sexual orientation. The act is applicable to media companies and media

owners in the territory of Liechtenstein, whereas the Criminal Code58 is applicable to a

wider circle of persons.

The Act on the Employment of Public Officials (AEPO)59 regulates protection against

dismissal in reference to the AEPD (Article 22(3)) and the Act on Equality between

Women and Men (AEWM).60

52 Act on Equality between Women and Men (Gesetz über die Gleichstellung von Frau und Mann,

Gleichstellungsgesetzes, GLG), 10 March 1999, LGBl. 1999 No. 96, available at:

https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1999096000?version=5.

53 Act on Equality of People with Disabilities (Gesetz über die Gleichstellung von Menschen mit Behinderungen,

Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz (AEPD), BGlG), 25 October 2006, LGBl. 2006, No. 243, available at:

https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2006243000?version=4.

54 Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB), LGBl. 1988 No. 37, available at:

https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1988.37.

In 2016, an amendment to § 283(1-3) of the Code entered into force, introducing a comprehensive

prohibition against discrimination. Criminal offences now include publicly inciting hatred or discrimination on

the grounds of language, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, ideology, gender, disability, age or sexual

orientation as well as racial discrimination (283(1), first, second and third sentences) and public

discrimination against a person or a group of persons on grounds of race, language, nationality, ethnicity,

religion or belief, gender, disability, age or sexual orientation in a manner contrary to human dignity (§

283(1), fourth sentence).

55 The Criminal Code does not define ideology. Thus, judicial interpretation would be needed here.

56 As regards sexual orientation, there are no legal cases known to the author that refer to the adopted

provisions of the Criminal Code that entered into force in April 2016.

57 Act on the Media (Mediengesetz, MedienG), 19 October 2005, LGBl. 2005 No. 250, available at:

https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2005250000?version=8.

58 Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB), LGBl. 1988, No. 37, available at:

https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1988037000?version=18.

59 Act on the Employment of Public Officials (Gesetz über das Dienstverhältnis des S taatspersonals,

Staatspersonalgesetz, StPG), 24 April 2008, LGBl. 2008 No. 144, available at:

https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/2008144000?version=8.