B. Investigation and Remedies: Discrimination based on Gender Discrimination based on gender refers to an act of favorably treating, excluding, differentiating or unfavorably treating a particular person or a group of particular persons without reasonable cause on the grounds of his/her or their gender in all aspects of social activities including employment. Sexual discrimination includes unfair treatment including direct discrimination deliberately committed against a person of a specific gender without reasonable cause. The intention of discrimination here can be explicit or implicit. Indirect discrimination, which occurs when, although neutral standards have been applied, it imposes significant disadvantage on a group of persons with a particular gender and standards are not justified, and is also considered as discrimination based on gender. □ Policy of Maritime High School that Prohibits Application of Female Students The Commission launched suo moto investigation in October 2011 after recognizing that the policy of the Maritime High School of prohibiting application of female students is a probable act of discrimination. The Maritime High School was established with 100% government funding to educate and train maritime specialists such as navigators and engineers, but it has opened its doors to male students only since its establishment in the 1970s. During the investigation, the school responded that it could admit female students to apply if certain issues including renovation of dormitory, restrooms, and other school facilities to accommodate female students, administration with regard to boarding of foreign crew, and reluctance of maritime businesses to hire female students are addressed. Even though the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs did not intend to contest the policy change to admit female students since the school was a 100% government-funded public education institution, the school cited that maritime shipping and fishing companies, who are employers of graduates, were skeptical of female students. Companies complained about difficulties such as accommodating female underage Chapter 4. Investigations and Remedies: Discriminatory Acts 109