Lithuania’s equal opportunities watchdog receives record discrimination complaints

Lithuania’s equal opportunities ombudsman received a record number of discrimination complaints in 2025, with nearly 40% more cases than the previous year, LRT reports.

The office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsman Birutė Sabatauskaitė processed 420 complaints last year, up from 261 in 2024 and 207 in 2022. Over the past four years, the number of complaints has doubled. Additionally, around 1,500 people sought written or verbal consultations in 2025.

Most inquiries concerned equal opportunities in employment, with 560 requests (including 62 formal complaints)—a significant increase from 370 in 2024. Sabatauskaitė noted that the surge reflects growing public awareness of discrimination across various sectors, from gender equality and harassment to consumer rights and accessibility.

“People are increasingly responding to potential human rights violations,” she said. “While not all cases fall under our legal mandate, this trend is encouraging.” The rise in workplace-related consultations was partly attributed to the implementation of the Gender Balance in Corporate Boards Directive and related preventive measures, such as employer training.

Discrimination based on disability was the most reported issue, with 125 complaints—over half concerning consumer rights violations. Investigations confirmed 34 breaches, particularly in education, such as inaccessible school exams or discriminatory university admission policies.

Sabatauskaitė highlighted persistent accessibility issues in public spaces, including restaurants, where 15 discrimination cases were identified. Problems included blocked entrances, locked restrooms, and restricted movement within venues. “These recurring issues show that accessibility standards are not consistently enforced, and legal regulations may have gaps,” she said.

The office also addressed complaints from people with service dogs, leading to legal amendments clarifying their access rights. Age and gender discrimination accounted for 55 and 50 complaints, respectively, with older individuals frequently facing barriers to discounts or services requiring online purchases.