This Act establishes the general framework for promoting equality and equal opportunities in Denmark. Its purpose is to ensure equal integration, influence and opportunities for women and men in all areas of society, while also prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics. The Act further prohibits harassment and sexual harassment and provides legal remedies, including compensation and access to complaints procedures, for individuals whose rights have been violated. The Act imposes positive obligations on public authorities to integrate equality considerations into their planning and administration. It allows certain equality-promoting measures to prevent or offset disadvantages experienced by underrepresented groups and requires the Minister for Equality to prepare annual reports and action plans on equality. The Act also contains provisions concerning the supply of goods and services, protection against victimisation for bringing discrimination complaints, and the role of the Danish Institute for Human Rights in promoting, monitoring and supporting equal treatment and non-discrimination. A significant part of the Act is devoted to improving gender balance in public decision-making and leadership. It requires public committees, commissions and similar bodies to seek balanced representation of women and men, and obliges many public institutions, state-owned entities, municipalities and regions with 50 or more employees to establish targets and policies for increasing the representation of the underrepresented sex in boards and senior management. The Act also establishes reporting requirements and oversight mechanisms to monitor progress towards gender equality in public governance and leadership structures.
丹麦 · 2000-05-30