WUNRN
Sweden - Ikea Store Pays Settlement to Romani Women Who Were Followed by a Security Guard
Göteborg, Sweden -15.1.2011 (ROMEA)
Four Romani women filed a claim with the Equality Ombudsman against a security guard who singled them out as they were shopping at an Ikea department store in Gothenburg. The Equality Ombudsman and Ikea have now entered into a settlement that gives each woman 15,000 kronor.
(1/15/11 - 1500 Swedish Kroner + $224.71 US Dollars)
When
the four Romani women visited the Ikea department store in Hisings Kärra near
Gothenburg, they found out relatively quickly that a security guard was
following them and constantly monitoring them. The guard's manner of watching
the women was even noticed by other customers in the store, which the women
found a further insult.
The
women filed a report with the Equality Ombudsman about the incident and alleged
discrimination based on their ethnicity, according to the Equality Ombudsman's
assessment. The Equality Ombudsman decided to file suit against Ikea, but first
offered to release the company from liability through a settlement.
The
Equality Ombudsman and Ikea have now reached an agreement and entered into a
settlement that provides each woman with 15,000 kronor [about $2,240]. Ikea
regretted that the women were discriminated against and undertook to enact
measures to prevent similar occurences in the future.
"Roma
are discriminated against often in daily life, in this case for example. Women
who are identified as Roma based on their dress are often especially affected
by harassment and insults," said Equality Ombudsman Katri Linna.