Lack of awareness of principles for equal treatment
Although disabled people are hired for jobs set aside for peope with special needs, they and others similarly classified are often later dismissed for precisely that reason. A lawyers’ association refused to register a law graduate because he was over the age of 35. An «A» student’s application for a housing grant and scholarship from the State Scholarship Foundation was rejected because although he grew up and studied in Greece, he is an Albanian citizen. Roma who have been granted housing loans miss their deadlines because they are not welcome in the municipalities. These are just some of the cases referred to the Citizens’ Advocate’s Bureau that is charged with protecting citizens from poor administration, inappropriate behavior and a lack of respect for equal treatment in accordance with law 3304/2005 on the implementation of equal treatment irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, religious or other beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation. The problem is that this pioneering law appears to have fallen through the cracks. It is not cited by citizens’ groups, nor are charges brought with relevant authorities which – with the exception of the Citizens’ Ombudsman – have done almost nothing to see that the law is implemented.
