School environment and working life are singled out as two problem areas in a new report from the Discrimination Ombudsman. Children with neuropsychiatric disabilities are among those who are particularly vulnerable, according to Lars Arrhenius, discrimination ombudsman.
The report is largely based on surveys from various authorities and according to the Swedish Work Environment Agency’s latest work environment survey, 305,000 people are exposed to various types of sexual harassment in working life. According to Lars Arrhenius, this mainly applies to personnel in the healthcare and restaurant industry.
– What we also see is that it is young girls and women who are subjected to sexual harassment on a very large scale, says Lars Arrhenius in The morning studio.
In working life, people are also exposed to being discriminated against due to ethical affiliation such as skin color or religion. According to the report, job seekers with Arabic/Muslim names are more likely than others to be discriminated against in connection with recruitment processes.
Want to reduce the number of darkness
Approximately 3,500 reports come in to DO annually, but in order for more people to report, Lars Arrenhius believes that people need to get a better grasp of what applies.
– We have started to focus on investigating these and there must be consequences if you break these rules. Then you have to remember that it is not so easy to tell about your own vulnerability, it can lead to feeling ashamed of this.
DO has now submitted the report to the government together with a letter stating that the ombudsman’s role needs to be clarified in the legislation and that they need better transparency over authority decisions.
– Today it is limited. It is about treatment and we cannot enter into decisions, that mandate must be developed.
Maria DO filed and received redress after she lost her internship due to her diagnosis. Hear her story in the video above.
