(EQUINET) Equality Today | Issue 36 | October 2023

Date of article: 31/10/2023

Daily News of: 31/10/2023

Country:  EUROPE

Author:

Article language: en

Unia (Belgium), as the new Equinet Chair.
As a result, the new Equinet Executive Board, which will steer Equinet's work for the two years ahead, is composed as follows:
  • Chair: Patrick Charlier, Director of Unia - the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities (Belgium)
  • Carla Tavares, President of CITE - Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (Portugal)
  • Lars Arrhenius, Equality Ombudsman at the Swedish Equality Ombudsman (Sweden)
  • Sandra Konstatzky, Director of the Ombud for Equal Treatment (Austria)
  • Christian Veske, Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner (Estonia)
  • Rainer Hiltunen, Ombudsman for Equality (Finland)
  • Kalliopi Lykovardi, Deputy Ombudsperson at the Greek Ombudsman (Greece)
  • Rhoda Garland, Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disability in Malta
  • Miha Lobnik, Head of the Advocate of the Principle of Equality (Slovenia).
 
A huge congratulations to the new Board! We are looking forward to working closely with them to support the Network!
 

Work Plan 2024
We are excited to present Equinet’s work plan for 2024, a roadmap that guides our efforts to promote equality and combat discrimination in Europe. Our plan for the upcoming year is structured around five main areas: Standards For Equality Bodies, EU Equality Strategies, Exploring New and Current Equality Trends, Developing Equality Law and The Role Of Equality Bodies; and Relationship Management, Network Development, and Governance.

Download our Work Plan to discover what is in store for Equinet in 2024!

 

#MembersNews 
2022 Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina  
The Institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina (IHROBiT), has issued its 2022 Annual Report. The report brings attention to issues including, among others, reports of unreasonable restrictions on political participation for minority candidates and a lack of investigation and accountability for gender-based violence and violence against children. The report also notes crimes against ethnic minorities, antisemitism, and violence targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. The findings underscore the need for continued efforts to address and improve the human rights situation in the country. Read the full report to get more insights.

 
 
#ClimateChange
Research Paper: Preliminary Assessment of the EU Green Deal’s Impact on Equality. Survey of Current Practices and Needs of European Equality Bodies
 In this research paper by Siel Hoornaert, Katrien van der Heyden, and Babs Verhoeven, the equality dimension of the European Union's Green Deal is put under the microscope, with a specific focus on four key areas: energy consumption, circular economy, environment, and land use. The paper delves into the findings of a survey conducted among Equinet members, shedding light on their understanding and involvement in the fight against climate change. The research also highlights encouraging efforts by Equality Bodies and presents practical recommendations for Equinet and its members to tackle climate issues and inequality.
Resources: The EU Green Deal’s Impact on Equality. Exploring the Role and Potential of Equality Bodies
This online roundtable, held on September 26, presented the findings of Equinet’s commissioned research on the EU Green Deal’s impact on equality and informed Equality Bodies about their role and potential regarding climate change and climate change policies.

The recording of the roundtable is now available online!
 
#EqualityLaw
Resources: The Other Side of the Law - Enforcement of Antidiscrimination Legislation
This conference aimed at reflecting on the enforcement of the existing equality and non-discrimination legislation, discussing how future legislative and policy measures can ensure effective enforcement through redress mechanisms such as sanctions. It brought together all actors in the enforcement chain of Equality and anti-discrimination legislation, notably Equality Bodies’ legal experts, national and European legislators, and Civil Society Organisations.

Relevant learning materials are now available online!

A Community Toolkit For Change: Resources For Leveraging The Courts
Systemic Justice announced the forthcoming release of the Community Toolkit for Change. This comprehensive toolkit encompasses a Guide for Legal Action, a Glossary of Essential Terms, and a Strategic Litigation Conversation Starter. These resources have been meticulously developed with a focus on clarity and accessibility, and in collaboration with advocacy groups dedicated to issues of racial, social, and economic justice within the Council of Europe region. Interested parties are  invited to attend a webinar on 14 November, 2023, at 18:00 CET, during which the toolkit will be formally introduced, and the mechanisms for leveraging the courts for transformative change will be expounded upon.
 
#Gender
Gender Equality Index 2023
On 24 October 2023, EIGE officially released the Gender Equality Index 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of gender equality in various life domains, including knowledge, money, health, work, power, and time. This year's thematic focus is Europe's transition towards carbon neutrality and the EU Green Deal.
The conference organized to launch the index featured prominent participants including leaders from Equality Bodies, Civil Society Organizations, Governments, and European institutions, who emphasized the need for inclusion of marginalized groups, data collection, and addressing gender disparities in areas such as care services and women’s entrepreneurship.
The full recording of the live conference is accessible here.
Campaign: Supporting the Adoption of The EU Directive on Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence 
The European Women's Lobby (EWL) has launched a campaign to advocate for the adoption of the EU Directive on Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. This campaign includes a list of key priorities for the trilogues, a petition to mobilise public support for this vital legislation, testimonies from survivors of rape, and an in-depth analysis of the legal definitions of rape in European countries. For more information and to get involved, please visit the campaign's dedicated page (link above).
The European Union is Officially a Party of the Istanbul Convention
The 1 October 2023 marked the entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in respect of the European Union, which has become the 38th Party to the Convention.
 
#ArtificialIntelligence
Report: Digitally Divided: Technology, Inequality, and Human Rights
The new report by Amnesty International uncovers how technology and various inequalities, including economic, racial, gender, disability, and linguistic disparities, intersect, especially in times of economic and political upheaval. This report builds on Amnesty International's tech-related work and is a valuable resource for policymakers, communities, and stakeholders dealing with technology and inequality issues.
Explore the vital link between technology, human rights, and inequality in this new report! 
Speaker Series: Digital Rights are Charter Rights
This webinar series, organised by the Digital Freedom Fund, shed a light on the impact of technology on fundamental rights and highlighted how digital rights are rights included in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter.
A recording is now available, where you can learn more about the critical issue of racist digital technologies, featuring case studies on discriminatory facial algorithms and e-proctoring systems and a fascinating expert exchange between Dr. Nawal Mustafa, Legal officer at Public Interest Litigation Project (PILP), and Jill Toh, co-founder of the Racism and Technology Center.
Speaker Series: Collective Redress – Lessons from Around the Globe
This Speaker Series, taking place online in October and November 2023, highlights and discusses collective redress mechanisms and case studies from Europe and worldwide. The series explores opportunities to harness collective power and strategic litigation to protect digital rights.
 

#LGBTIQ+

Protecting the Rights of LGBTIQ+ Persons in the EU
Legal professionals, policymakers, activists, and advocates are invited to join an in-depth online seminar examining the intricacies of LGBTIQ+ rights in Europe, organised by the Academy of European Law (ERA). This event evaluates EU policies, CJEU and ECtHR case law, and offers insights into litigating LGBTIQ+ cases while addressing victimization. The seminar is conducted on Zoom, allowing participants to interact directly with esteemed speakers for an immersive learning experience. Register now to secure your place at this esteemed event.
 
 

#SocioEconomicRights

High-level Hybrid Conference: The Social Dimension in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans
This Conference, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 8 November, offers a unique opportunity to delve into the real-world implementation of National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) and assess their effectiveness in tackling social challenges. The Conference will include sessions dedicated to the links between NRRPs and the European Semester, gender equality, youth, and presentations on national projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
 
 
#ReligionOrBelief
Guidebook on Local Actions against Anti-Muslim Racism: Policy Recommendations for City Administrations and Their Partners
The European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR) released its first Guidebook collecting good practices of city administrations’ actions to combat anti-Muslim racism, with the aim of encouraging inclusive cities all across Europe that protect Muslim residents from discrimination and safeguard their right to equal opportunities. The guidebook is available for download in multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Polish).
 

#Disability

European Parliament Calls for Further Harmonisation of the Rights of Autistic People in the EU
On 4 October 2023, the European Parliament (EP) adopted a non-binding resolution that calls on the European Commission and Member States to take into account the rights and needs of autistic people. In this article, Autism Europe (AE) welcomes the adoption of this resolution, which spans key areas from access to diagnosis to eligibility for the upcoming European Disability Card (and, more generally, disability status), highlighting various areas of discrimination across the lifespan and including the specific needs of girls and women on the autism spectrum and other groups.
 

#Race&EthnicOrigin

Report: Being Black in the EU
The European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published its second “Being Black in the EU” report, exposing the persistent challenges faced by individuals of African descent within the European Union: 45% of respondents disclosed experiencing racial discrimination within the five years leading up to the survey, with an increase from 39% in the previous FRA survey. In the Report, FRA highlights the important role of Equality Bodies and urges Member States to adopt the legislative proposal on Standards for Equality Bodies.
 
#Age
The EU Demography Toolbox: How to  Manage Demographic Change in the EU
On 11 October, the European Commission published the EU Demography Toolbox that explains how Member States can manage population changes and their effects on the EU's society and economy, including global competitiveness. This document outlines the tools available to Member States, such as rules, policies, and funding. These tools can be combined with local and national plans to help everyone benefit from demographic changes and deal with the challenges more easily.
 
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