Equality Today | Issue 22 | April 2022
Check in this issue:
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Equality Bodies supporting Equality Planning
Thursday, 19 May (10 – 14 CEST)
Register by 12 May
Organised together with ACM and CIG, this online conference focuses on equality bodies’ role in supporting equality planning by public and private actors.
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French Presidency Conference Series
2-3 June, Paris (with streaming option)
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Equinet meeting UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities in Brussels
On 23 March, Anne Gaspard (Equinet Co-Director for Network Strategic Engagement) and Jone Elizondo-Urrestarazu (Legal and Policy Officer) had the pleasure of meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Gerard Quinn. It was a fruitful meeting discussing the persistent efforts and need of stronger EU anti-discrimination legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, the importance of an intersectional approach and necessary European standards to ensure their effective work. |
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Report: Exploring positive action as a means to fight structural discrimination in Europe
This Equinet Report explains how positive action differs from other measures in anti-discrimination law, and describes the EU and international legislative framework, including case law. The Report draws upon the experiences of Equinet’s Member States by analysing the understanding of the nature of positive action in national legislation and delving into some of the most problematic issues, such as monitoring and measuring the success of positive action measures. |
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Report: Equality Bodies Combating Antisemitism
The Equinet Summary Report with the main outputs from Equinet Workshop on Equality Bodies Combating Antisemitism is now available online. The workshop, held on March 10, allowed equality bodies to deepen their knowledge and understanding of combatting antisemitism. As institutions working against inequality and discrimination based on race or ethnic origin, and often with mandates including religion or belief as well, equality bodies are well placed to contribute to the effective implementation of the Strategy. |
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Blog post: Diversity and Inclusion for the win
This Equinet blogpost, written by Policy Officer Daris J. Lewis Recio, draws lessons from his experience representing Equinet as a juror of the European Capitals of Inclusion & Diversity Award. It focuses on the increasing diversity of European cities and how they can adapt to the needs of population groups and capitalise on the diversity of their population. |
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European Commission proposes to SLAPP down the use of abusive lawsuits against journalists and human rights defenders
Strategic lawsuits against public participation, commonly known as ‘SLAPPs', are a particular form of harassment used primarily against journalists and human rights defenders to prevent or penalise speaking up on issues of public interest. The newly proposed Directive provides courts and targets of SLAPPs with the tools to fight back against manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings. The proposed safeguards will apply in civil matters with cross-border implications. |
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Council of Europe adopts a resolution on discrimination based on social origin
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution based on the report by Selin Sayek Böke (Turkey, SOC) which stresses that discrimination based on social origin increases poverty and social exclusion and results in class pay-gap. Equality bodies are mentioned in the resolution as key players in the fight to discrimination and Member States should provide them with the necessary resources to carry out their tasks (12.5). Milla Vidina, Policy Officer at Equinet, fed into the report (5.3, 60-61), building on Equinet work on Other Grounds of Discrimination. |
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10 Keys to effectively communicating human rights
How can we effectively communicate around human rights and equality? Equinet and human rights organisations across Europe have prepared a list of the ten most important aspects of communication, to keep in mind throughout our work - including a focus on our audience, partnerships, and ways of working. Now available in 28 languages! |
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Kosovo: Annual Report 2021
The Annual Report 2021 of the Ombudsperson Institution of Kosovo contains findings of the Ombudsperson during 2021 concerning cases of systematic and individual violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The report also features recommendations, opinions, and proposals for undertaking measures to enhance the respect of human rights as well as the institution’s activities towards human rights’ promotion and awareness raising.
Great Britain: EHRC made 29 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments in their UPR
EHRC made 29 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments across 11 topic areas ensuring that any reform of the Human Rights Act does not weaken protection for individuals; that social care policy - including proposed reforms - measurably enhances the rights of people with care needs; that more effort is made to tackle gaps in educational attainment across protected characteristic groups; and that the use of automated facial recognition and predictive programmes in policing is reviewed. |
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Latvia: Engaging with the EC
On 16 March, Latvia Ombudsman Juris Jansons participated in an online meeting with representatives of the European Commission’s DG JUST and the Secretariat-General. At the meeting, the Ombudsman gave his insight into the situation of the rule of law in Latvia, including the Ombudsman’s activities, independence and resources, the openness and functioning of civil society, and their views on media pluralism and freedom. |
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Spain: “Racial discrimination in the field of housing and informal settlements"
The Spanish Ministry of Equality has carried out a study to analyse racial discrimination in housing and informal settlements: how it occurs, how it manifests itself, what implications it has, as well as how to address the relationship between racial discrimination and residential exclusion. The study reinforces the commitment to the need for data to enable policy makers and citizens to assess the extent and nature of racial discrimination and to design and evaluate ad-hoc policies.
Grant opportunity: OHCHR International Decade for People of African Descent
The Anti-Racial Discrimination section of the OHCHR has opened a call for project proposals to the IDPAD Grant. In the framework of the International Decade for People of African Descent, the IDPAD Grant scheme provides financial support to projects from civil society and non-governmental organizations that aim at promoting and protecting the human rights of people of African descent Applications can be submitted in English or French. The deadline for application is 20 May 2022. |
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Estonia: Towards gender equality through increased capabilities for work-life balance
The Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner's Office project on gender equality aims to contribute to increased capabilities for work-life balance for women and men. The project includes innovative and interactive tools focusing on attitudes and stereotypes, especially those related to sharing of care.
How to respond to gender-based violence and champion gender equality
The Violence against Women Division of the Council of Europe published two new brochures to explain the Istanbul Convention. The first publication focuses on Article 14 and provides examples of promising formal and informal educational practices aiming to promote gender equality, mutual respect, non-violent conflict resolution and other topics. The second publication provides an examination of the scope of obligations contained in Article 4.3, and offers an intersectional reading of the Istanbul Convention. |
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EDF launches a transport accessibility database
The European Disability Forum has launched a transport accessibility database where it is possible to report cases of discrimination, especially in transport. The initiative is a reaction to the lack of data regarding discrimination cases suffered by people with disabilities in the EU, and the will to fill that gap. The new platform also allows users to browse cases of discrimination in other Member States or by transport mode. |
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