Anti-Discrimination Opportunities Act (Gleichbehandlungsgesetz). These ambiguities pertain to proceedings regarding discrimination for multiple reasons, so-called multiple discrimination. For example, discrimination by the employer of a Muslim woman who wears a hijab can be deemed discrimination due to ethnic origin, but also due to her religion or her gender. In accordance with the statutory requirements, different attorneys of the Ombud for Equal Treatment are competent for advising and supporting this victim of discrimination, depending on the reason for the discrimination; previously the attorneys of the Ombud for Equal Treatment jointly represented the victim in proceedings before the Equal Treatment Commission. Discrimination for multiple reasons Since the most recent amendment of the Austrian Federal Equal Opportunities Act, this is no longer possible. Against the backdrop of the reduction of the size of the senates, the amendment stipulates that the entire case can be represented before the Equal Treatment Commission only by a single attorney from the Ombud for Equal Treatment. This also applies to cases of multiple discrimination. This means that victims of alleged multiple discrimination can still be advised and supported by the competent and specialised members of the Ombud for Equal Treatment. The submission of the petitions for examination to the Equal Treatment Commission and procedural steps in written form in the proceedings before the Equal Treatment Commission can continue to be made by the competent attorneys of the Ombud for Equal Treatment. However, in the actual proceedings before the Equal Treatment Commission, only one member of the Ombud for Equal Treatment can represent the entire case. Advice and support by several specialised attorneys of the Ombud for Equal Treatment The Ombud for Equal Treatment criticised this amendment because it fears that this will result in an inevitable breach of competence with regard to the attorneys who are appointed for clearly defined areas of competence. The Ombud for Equal Treatment also found it unclear whether the steps undertaken by a member of the Ombud for Equal Treatment in proceedings before the Equal Treatment Commission, e.g. the withdrawal of a petition, can even have legal effect outside of the statutory purview of an attorney. Representation in proceedings before the Equal Treatment Commission only by one specialist In their remarks to the AOB, the Federal Ministry of Education and Women’s Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection did not share these misgivings. They pointed out that any necessary clarifications between the individual members of the Ombud for Equal Treatment can be undertaken either prior to the session of the Equal Treatment Commission or during the session by way of a brief phone conversation. Furthermore, the Ombud for Equal Treatment can change the attorney representing the victim in the course of the session. 43