(Equinet) Equality Today | Issue 16 | October 2021

Date of article: 20/10/2021

Daily News of: 22/10/2021

Country: EUROPE

Author: European network of equality bodies - EQUINET

Article language: en

Equinet@Work

#LocalLevelEquality #Conference
Promoting Equality and Addressing Discrimination at the Local Level
25-26 October: Equinet is hosting a conference to explore cooperation, in particular with local authorities, to promote equality and tackle discrimination at the local level. The first day of the conference will feature speakers from FRA, CoE, equality bodies, and local governments, and will be livestreamed on Equinet’s Facebook page. For full programme click here.

#EqualityMainstreaming #Conference
Registration opens: Equinet conference on equality mainstreaming
19 November: Equinet is hosting an online conference to create an opportunity for national equality bodies to discuss with relevant actors on how they can cooperate and better promote equality mainstreaming and use the tools of equality duties and equality impact assessments to tackle discrimination across the various protected fields and grounds. Registrations are open until 12 November.

#LegislationGaps
Assessing gaps in the Racial Equality Legislation
To support work being undertaken by the European Commission to strengthen EU equality legislation, this “Equinet Brief: Assessing Gaps in the Racial Equality Directive” compiles learnings from previous Equinet work on the challenges faced by equality bodies at the national level in relation to the implementation of Council Directive 2000/43/EC (Racial Equality Directive).

Members@Work

#Report
Slovakia: Report on the Observance of Human Rights 2020
The National Centre for Human Rights in Slovakia has published the English version of their yearly Report on the Observance of human rights, including the Principle of Equal Treatment. The report covers the selected major equality and human rights issues being tackled in Slovakia in 2020, including, inter alia: the right to liberty, freedom of movement and residence, the right to education or the right to healthcare.

Partners@Work

#ReligionOrBelief
New EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life
The European Commission launched the first-ever EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life (2021-2030). The strategy sets out a series of measures to prevent all forms of antisemitism, secure and foster Jewish life, promote remembrance and education about the Holocaust. For more information click here.

#LGBTIQ
ECRI Seminar: Combating LGBTI inequality is a shared responsibility
This year’s ECRI seminar for equality bodies was held on 18 October, and featured discussions on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on LGBTI issues, the latest LGBTI survey carried out by the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), and legislative initiatives in different European countries. During the seminar, European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli stressed the need to "progress towards an EU where equality bodies are fully independent and can address all equality issues."

#Disabilities #Input
Have your say: European Web Accessibility Directive
The European Commission has recently launched an EU-wide public consultation to gather opinions on the extent to which its Web accessibility directive has been applied and on how it has affected the wide community dealing with accessibility. All EU citizens and organisations can share their views by filling in this online survey by October 25.

#ArtificialIntelligence #Disabilities #Input
Call for Input: Artificial Intelligence and the rights of persons with disabilities
The UN Human Rights Council is preparing a special report on the effects of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Automated Decision Making on persons with disabilities. The special rapporteur is currently seeking contributions from equality bodies and other stakeholders to inform the report. Don’t miss the opportunity to contribute by 3 November.