(Equinet) Equality Today | Issue 27 | November 2022

Date of article: 15/11/2022

Daily News of: 15/11/2022

Country:  EUROPE

Author: European network of equality bodies - EQUINET

Article language: en

21-22 November, 10:00-12:00 CET, via Zoom 
Workshop: Equality Bodies tackling anti-racism and discrimination against people of African descent 
Register by 17 November

This online workshop will bring together Equality Body staff, EU and UN representatives and NGOs working on discrimination against people of African descent, to share good practices and discuss future developments. 
 

#EquinetNews 

The Commissioner for the Administration and Protection of Human Rights of Cyprus celebrates its 30+ anniversary
In order to celebrate its 30+ anniversary, the Commissioner for the Administration & Protection of Human Rights of Cyprus is holding a conference in Nicosia on 2 December on the rule of law, principles, and exchange of good practices in the implementation of the Ombudsman’s competences to promote and protect fundamental rights. Congratulations to our colleagues for more than 30 years promoting equality in Cyprus!
Stay tuned for upcoming Equinet publications!
In 2022 we have continued our work together to strengthen Equality in Europe. Some of this work will result in analysis and insights that will soon be published on our website and shared online. Keep an eye on our library of publications and check out Equinet’s past publications!
 

#EqualityData

Training resources: Use of equality data in non-discrimination legal casework 
On 27-28 October, Equinet held a training to help members of the Working Groups on Research and Data Collection and Equality Law better identify and use research and data in non-discrimination legal casework. This training was developed by the international equality lawyer, analyst, and trainer, Margarita Ilieva. It included learning resources, such as a compilation of examples of uses of equality data in relevant ECtHR and CJEU caselaw. The training materials are now available for download!  
 

#ArtificialIntelligence

AI Talk: Understanding how Artificial Intelligence is currently being used
During the first Equinet AI Talk, a conversation about Artificial Intelligence,  Professor Dr. Frederik J. Zuiderveen Borgesius  from Radboud University Nijmegen looked at the fields of life where AI systems are being used, gave a range of examples on the current and potential uses of AI systems to prevent and combat discrimination, and how Equality Bodies can address any challenges to equality. The AI Talk is now available on YouTube! 

For all information regarding this training and more generally, about Equinet’s work on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital automatic, please consult Equinet’s dedicated AI website. 
Blog post: Dutch Childcare Allowance Scandal – The importance of investigation powers 
The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights investigated the suspected racial discrimination in the way Dutch tax authorities identified parents for suspicion of fraud on childcare allowance through algorithms. Learn more about the investigation process and the results directly from Dr. Alexander Hoogeboom, who worked on the case.
 

#LGBTQI+

Regional hybrid conference on political participation of LGBTQI+ people in the Western Balkans and Turkey
ERA (LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Wester Balkans and Türkiye), in collaboration with the Swedish HBT-Socialdemocrats, will organize an hybrid conference on 1-2 December 2022 at 10:00-17:00. The conference will take place in Podgorica (Montenegro) and online.  Participants will discuss how to advance the rights and political participation of LGBTIQ+ people in the region given the current context characterized by the rise of authoritarianism and anti-human rights rhetoric. 
 

#EqualityLaw

Opinion: Improving equality in the EU 
The European Economic and Social Committee drafted an opinion addressing the non-adoption of the so-called Horizontal directive  that upholds an  "artificial hierarchy of protected grounds" as the grounds of sex and racial or ethnic origin enjoy wider protection than other grounds such as religion or belief, age, disability and sexual orientation. The opinion also includes recommendations for future action towards improving equality in Europe.
 

#Disabilities

Inclusive labour markets: a support service for persons with disabilities to match their skills with employment opportunities
On 22 November at 9:30-11:00, COFACE Families Europe will host a webinar on inclusive labour markets for persons with disabilities. The webinar will dive into the work of Operação de Emprego para Pessoas com Deficiência (OED), which aims at providing persons with disabilities with meaningful employment opportunities. 
 

#Race&EthnicOrigin

How to prevent ethnic-origin related hair discrimination in schools 
Students with Afro-textured hair disproportionally experience discrimination related to hair or hairstyle. The Equality and Human Rights Commission in the UK developed a set of resources for schools to better understand hair discrimination and how to ensure inclusivity for all pupils.
Report: Roma in 10 European Countries
The latest report from the EU Fundamental Rights Agency presents the findings of a survey carried out on Roma persons in Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, North Macedonia and Serbia. 
 

#Gender

Gender Equality Index 2022 
The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) has recently launched its Gender Equality Index 2022 which focuses for the first time on data from the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are worrying, with only an overall 0.6-point increase since last year’s index.
Publication: Gender equality and climate change
The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) of Malta has published the 15th issue of the newsletter ‘Equality Matters’ focusing on Gender Equality and Climate Change. The issue explores the relationship between gender equality and climate change, and provides information on key concepts and recommendations at national, EU, and international levels.
 

#SocialRights

Focus report: Social rights and equality in the light of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought new attention to social inequalities and vulnerabilities. This special focus report by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, which was published originally as part of FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2022, analyses the impact of the pandemic on social rights and national recovery and resilience plans aimed at addressing social vulnerability among various groups, such as women, children and persons with disabilities.
Report: Banning discrimination on the grounds of socioeconomic disadvantage - an essential tool in the fight against poverty
The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights recently published a thematic report titled “Banning discrimination on grounds of socioeconomic disadvantage: an essential tool in the fight against poverty.” The report emphasizes that socio-economic discrimination should be recognized as part of the daily experience of people in poverty and therefore should be adequately addressed as part of the fight for poverty eradication.
Report: Poverty Watch in unequal times of crises 
This report by the European Anti-poverty network presents the key findings of a bottom-up analysis on the state of play of poverty in Europe. It includes a focus on the effect of the ongoing war in Ukraine, cost of living and energy crises, the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the vulnerable groups and the exacerbation of pre-existing social injustices affecting them.
 

#ReligionOrBelief

Overview of antisemitic incidents recorded in the European Union 
The EU Fundamental Rights Agency released its annual update on antisemitic incidents and hate crimes in the European Union, now covering the timespan between January 2011 and December 2021.
Read more