Following an appeal by a student to the Ombudsman, in December 2022 the independent authority found that a school textbook contained wording that allowed negative characterizations related to homosexuality and immigration, in violation of the principle of equal treatment, as enshrined in Law 4443/2016 (ΦΕΚ Α’ 232/9.12.2016). Article 1 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, origin, religious or other beliefs, disability, age, sexual orientation, identity or gender characteristics.
Specifically, in a textbook accompanying the course ‘Hygiene – Microbiology,’ there were statements linking the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases with the “spread of homosexuality” and immigration. The Ombudsman, within the framework of his powers to defend the interests of the child (Law 3094/2003 – Government Gazette A’ 10/22.01. 2003) and as a body promoting the principle of equal treatment, has proposed a systematic check of school textbooks, in order to remove wording that allows misinterpretations and negative characterizations linked to sexual orientation, as well as any wording that could lead to the stigmatisation and targeting of persons with a migrant background.
The Ministry of Education has subsequently complied with the recommendations of the Ombudsman and removed this wording from the textbook.
A state governed by the rule of law must ensure the effective implementation of the principle of equal treatment of citizens, irrespective of race, colour, descent, birth, religion or belief, disability, age, marital or social status, sexual orientation, identity or gender identity.
This case found that a school textbook contained wording that allowed negative characterisations linked to both sexual orientation and migrant backgrounds, in violation of the principle of equal treatment, as enshrined in Law No. 4443/2016.
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