European year of equal opportunities for all 

On this page

• Launch Event - 14 May 2007
  
• Regional roadshows
  
• Summary of activities carried out by devolved nations (Scotland, Wales and N Ireland)
  
• EYEOA Closing Event in Lisbon: 19/20 November 2007
  
• UK Closing event, House of Commons: 13th December 2007
  
• What you can do
  
• European Commission online consultation
  
• Looking ahead
  
• EQUINET
  

Launch Event - 14 May 2007

Our first stop was in Manchester on 14 May.  Meg Munn MP, then Minister for Equalities and the EHRC Chair Trevor Phillips visited local projects at the forefront of work on equality and diversity in the city. They were joined by invited delegates from a wide range of organisations at the launch event which was hosted by Manchester media personality Tony Morris.

The launch included keynote speeches by Meg Munn, Arlene McCarthy MEP and Trevor Phillips. Delegates had the opportunity to put questions to a panel in a ‘Question Time’ session.

The Panel comprised of:

• Trevor Phillips
• Gail Porter - Home Office Director for Government Office North West
• Jane Touil - a manager at Breakthrough UK, an organisation run by disabled people, to remove barriers to inclusion and independence.
• Paul Martin - Chief Executive of the Lesbian & Gay Foundation
• Riaz Ahmed - a leading light on race relations in Oldham. He served as Mayor of Oldham from 2002 to 2003 and is a well-known advocate for the town's Asian community
• Tony Winter - a former gangster turned Street Pastor in Manchester.

Regional roadshows

The launch event was followed by a series of regional roadshows taking in all areas of the country. We asked each region what they were doing, or could be doing, to create a society at ease with its diversity. We brought together local community and voluntary groups, advice and support experts, local councillors, businesses and employers, academics and researchers, as well as the general public.

Delegates at the roadshows learned more about the European experience of creating greater equality and diversity. They also had the opportunity to share ideas and good practice and to learn more about how key human rights principles can underpin equality.

The roadshows were facilitated by Juliet Alexander, Journalist and former TV Presenter.
 
Roadshows were held at the following locations:

• 21 June, Leeds - Leeds Park Plaza
• 28 June, Gateshead - Gateshead Hilton
• 3 July, Bristol - Bristol Marriott
• 12 July, Blackburn - Blackburn Football Club
• 17 July, Leicester - Leicester City Football Club
• 19 July, London - Oval Cricket Ground
• 13 September - Birmingham NEC

The regional roadshows were complemented by our involvement in pan-European activities for the Year, most notably the two Truck Tours in Liverpool and Glasgow in July and October respectively. We contributed to the programme for both events and helped to facilitate media interviews with the Director of the Women and Equality Unit. For more information about the Truck Tours, please visit the Truck Tour website.

We also hosted a further five ‘tailored’ events aimed at specific groups and these included the following:

Equality South West, 'Focus On Youth': 22 October 2007, Exeter

Aim: to capture young people’s comments on their rights and how to remove barriers. The event was organised by Equality South West (ESW) on behalf of Government Equality Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. As the focus of the conference was on youth, and issues affecting young people, attendees from the 16 – 25 age range were targeted. People who work with, on behalf of, or care for young people, or those with an interest in youth issues were also invited.

Local Government Association (LGA), 'The Challenge for Local Authorities': 1 November 2007, Birmingham

Aim: This was the first national event during the European Year focusing solely on local government and provided an excellent opportunity for Barbara Follett, the new Minister for Equality, and Trevor Phillips to jointly engage council chiefs with the new Commission and its work. 

Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), 'Making Rights Real': 15 November 2007, Birmingham

Aim: To increase VCS awareness and understanding of key equality and human rights frameworks and developments in the UK, and to review the role of VCS and those communities it serves in ‘making rights real. Also to raise awareness of the role and relevance of EU and EYEOA to VCS work in tackling inequality in the UK; and identify existing best practice and make recommendations to Government, EHRC and VCS bodies in strengthening the role and participation of VCS in tackling inequality and promoting human rights.

The Men’s Health Forum and Coalition, 'Women and Men working together to achieve ‘Gender Equality': 3 December 2007, London

Aim: to contribute to thinking on Minister for Women Priorities 1 and 2, identifying Men’s inequalities and taking action on EU and UN priorities on engaging Men and Boys in Gender Equality.

Help the Aged, 'Age Equality – It’s Our Right': 7 December 2007, London

Aim: To give older people the opportunity to have their say on equality and diversity issues and to include their ‘voice’ in the EYEOA process. Invitees were not all from specific organisations/networks. People who did not belong to a particular organisation/body were also invited. (EU speakers: MEPs - Lz Lynne and Jean Lambert both spoke at the event).

All the above events were well attended and will contribute to the work of both the EHRC and the GEO.

Summary of activities carried out by devolved nations (Scotland, Wales and N Ireland)

Scotland

In Scotland, work continues to tackle discrimination and prejudice. Scotland has hosted a series of events including:

• an ‘opening’ reception to launch the Year, hosted by the Minister for Communities 
• a conference to address mental health and the workplace, and
• an innovative theatre production, telling stories of individuals faced with discrimination, performed as part of Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival.

The Year closed with a high level conference to highlight what had been learnt during the Year and the future of equality in Scotland. Further information from: Michael.Cutts@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Wales

A launch event to mark the ‘European Year of Equal Opportunities for All’ was hosted by the Minister with responsibility for equality.  The event brought together public, private and voluntary sector organisations and community leaders and interest groups to launch the initiative in Wales and encourage participation from organisations and groups that were not already involved in the Year.  Organisations were provided with information about the initiative and as well as the proposed event and activities that were planned in Wales.  Other activities included:

• raising awareness of people’s rights through their programme and vision for equality. Their ‘Single Equality Scheme’ will enable greater understanding of  equality, diversity and human rights
• a roadshow as well as ‘Street Theatre’ performances  that challenged established prejudices and  stereotypes
• events, where the general public have been  encouraged to discuss key equality, diversity and  human rights priorities.
  The closing event was hosted by the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government.  It brought together public, and voluntary sector organisations as well as community leaders and members of the general public to celebrate the achievements from the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007.  Further information from:  equalityandhumanrights@wales.gis.gov.uk   

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland the Equality Commission continues to raise awareness of everyone’s right to enjoy equal treatment and a life free from discrimination.  The Commission contributed to the overall UK objective of creating a society at ease with its diversity as well as ensuring delivery on a number of key areas and projects and these included:

• its 7th Annual Conference themed on 'Equality for All:  A Focus on Rights and Representation'. The conference was attended by a broad spectrum of  people including political leaders and senior policy makers, NGO’s, trade union officials, employers and participants from the community and voluntary sectors. The event was also used to launch the Commission’s statement on key inequalities in Northern Ireland
• in partnership with the Children’s Law Centre, the Commission produced a young person’s publication entitled 'Do you know your rights…about  discrimination' and disseminated almost 30,000 copies  during the year
• a further partnership with a number of external  stakeholders led to a number of intercultural activities  under the themes of the year, including: an arts project with the education sector focusing on diversity and a  series of events and seminars during Anti-Racist Work  Place Week in November and, a schools based  photographic competition, production and  dissemination of translated materials for migrant  workers and in addition we  provided informational  stands at major events, including the PRIDE festival in  Northern Ireland. Further information from: FDevlin@equalityni.org

EYEOA Closing Event in Lisbon: 19/20 November 2007

Aim: To participate in the European closing event and learn about the various contributions from other member states.

Members of the UK delegation included: Barbara Follett, Minister for Equality; Trevor Philips, Chair, EHRC; Margaret Mitchell, MSP; Evelyn Collins the Chief Executive of Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; Gloria Mills of Unison; Cllr Mary Aspinall, Local Government Association; EYEOA Sponsor, Zyg Kowalczyk and EYEOA Project Manager, Barbara Lindsay.

The EC is expected to produce a report covering all the countries that have participated in the Year, by end June 2008.

UK Closing event, House of Commons: 13th December 2007

The UK closing event to celebrate our contribution and achievements throughout the Year was hosted by the Minister Barbara Follett.  The venue provided the ideal setting for the event – which was well attended by all those who had not only contributed to specific actions to mark the ‘Year’ but also to providing equality of opportunity through community and self-help projects.  Guests were drawn from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors as well as representatives from NGOs, social partners and other self-help organisations.  Guests also included individuals who had contributed to the Year through other channels, eg the UK ‘Face of the Year’, David Neita, in respect of the EU Truck Tour, and the two journalists who had won awards under the 'For Diversity. Against Discrimination' campaign.  Speakers included: Barbara Follett, Baroness Prosser (EHRC Deputy Chair) and Belinda Pyke from the EU. Pictures from the House of Commons Reception of the UK contribution to the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All Year can be viewed here.  

Delegates received a copy of our booklet 'Valuing Diversity' containing a number of examples of best practice initiatives – which will form part of the legacy from the Year. 

Download the Valuing Diversity booklet (PDF 2MB)

A Press Notice was issued to the regional media (throughout the UK) covering these and further examples of spreading best practice in providing equality of opportunity for all.  These included visits to schools as well as community centres by both Barbara Follett, and Trevor Phillips. 

A DVD showcasing equality projects by a variety of organisations and individuals (with commentary by both the Equality Minister and Chair of EHRC) were given to each delegate.  The booklet and DVD will also be made available on a host of websites across the UK so that there is easy access for all.  It will be available in different texts and languages where needed.

The UK report on its contribution to the Year was published in March 2008 and can be downloaded from the EYEOA website.

What you can do

Equality is not only about minorities. A more equal Britain would be a better Britain: more prosperous, more humane, more cohesive and fairer. We want the Year to be a lasting and memorable one and to contribute to current and future work of the EHRC.  We all have a part to play and we would encourage you to do whatever you can, whether at home, in the workplace or in a community centre.  Please make full use of the booklet and the DVD; these are useful tools in the pursuit of equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit the European Year Press Room on the European Commission Website.

European Commission online consultation

The European Commission launched an online ‘public’ consultation from July 2007 – October 2007 on combating discrimination in the Member States and at EU level. This was done to will help the Commission plan new measures to tackle discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in areas beyond the job market.

'We want to hear the views of as many people as possible on how to take on discrimination effectively in areas such as healthcare, education and housing,' said Vladimír Pidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. He added, 'The EU already has some of the most extensive anti-discrimination laws in the world. But we want to make sure that protection against discrimination is focused where it is most needed and that the right balance is struck between everyone involved - be they individuals, employers, public authorities or associations.'

A study of national anti-discrimination laws carried out for the Commission in 2006 concluded that all Member States have legal rules going beyond what is already required by European law - the Race Equality Directive and the Employment Equality Directive. However, there is a considerable variation in the type of rules in place and their scope. Higher protection tends to be granted against discrimination on the grounds of religion and gender, while discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, disability and age is less covered outside the field of employment.

In January 2007, the Eurobarometer survey showed that 64% of Europeans believe discrimination is widespread in their country and 51% think that not enough is being done to combat the problem.

The Commission announced that it would put forward new initiatives during 2008 to prevent and combat discrimination outside the labour market based on gender, religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Commission initiatives have to be accompanied by an Impact Assessment, which analyses the pros and cons of the various options available. The results of the public consultation would feed into this process. For more information visit the European Commission website.  

You can also read the study on national measures to combat discrimination outside employment and view the Anti-discrimination website.

Looking ahead

2008 has been designated as the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID).  In the UK, the National Co-ordinating Body is known as EUCLID; and the responsible government department is DCMS.

We understand that EUCLID plans to host a number of events in 2008 to mark the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.  Events include conferences, exchange fairs and training seminars throughout the UK.

In addition to the events, organisations interested in the European Year are encouraged to sign up to the partner section of the EYID 2008 website, which offers a unique networking platform for all people involved in the European Year.

EQUINET

EQUINET is the EU network of specialised equality bodies.  It was launched on 27 November 2007 by Niall Crowley at the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All closing conference in Lisbon.

Specialised equality bodies are independent bodies established by statute in the Member States to support the effective implementation of equality legislation.

EQUINET works to:

• contribute to the effective implementation by specialised equality bodies of their mandate through exchanging information and through sharing expertise on supporting good practice in promoting equality, and on enforcement strategies
• build the expertise within specialised equality bodies on the dynamic interpretation of equal treatment legislation across the European Union
• support the emergence of a dialogue between the institutions of the European Union and the specialised equality bodies with a view to contributing to the inclusion of an effective equality focus in EU policies and programmes.

EQUINET has been funded by the European Commission to develop an office and staff, and to further develop its work programme.

For more information please visit the following sites:

EYEOA

Find out more about the European Year of Equal Opportunity for All (EYEOA) from the website that covers the initiative across Europe.

or go straight to the page about activities in the UK.

EYID

www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu  (EU website)

http://inter.culture.info   (UK website)

EQUINET

Please email: ncrowley@equality.ie

See the European Commission website for background details of the explanatory memorandum of the proposal for 2007 European Year presented by the Commission.