MEMO/07/24
Brussels, 23rd January 2007
[Graphic in PDF & Word format]
European year of Equal Opportunities for All
–Eurobarometer on Discrimination
Are Europeans concerned about discrimination and do they feel that they,
or sections of society, are discriminated against?
Today's Eurobarometer survey shows that a large proportion of Europeans are
of the opinion that discrimination is widespread in their country (64%). On
average 51 % of Europeans think that not enough effort is being made in their
country to fight discrimination and they would like to see this change.
At the same time, the survey highlights that awareness of the existence of
anti-discrimination laws in the EU remains quite low. Disability is the only
type of discrimination which more than half of the European public knows is
prohibited by law when hiring employees. The public is least aware of
legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age (31%) and sexual
orientation (30%). Only one third of European Union citizens (32%) know their
rights should they become a victim of discrimination or harassment.
What do Europeans think are the main areas for discrimination?
According to today's survey, discrimination based on ethnic origin is felt to
be the most widespread (almost 2 Europeans out of 3, or 64%; however, results
vary widely between countries). Around one in two Europeans considers
discrimination based on disability and sexual orientation to be widespread.
Discrimination on the basis of age (46%), religion or beliefs (44%) and gender
(40%) are also felt to occur, albeit at to slightly lesser extent.
A broad majority of European citizens believe that being disabled (79%),
being a Roma (77%), being over 50 (69%) or having a different ethnic origin
(62%) is a disadvantage in their society. Iin all but four Member States, a
majority of citizens find that people of a different ethnic origin than the rest
of the population enrich the national culture.
What is the aim of the European Year for Equal Opportunities for
All?
The aim of the Year is to inform citizens of their right to
non-discrimination and equal treatment, to promote equal opportunities for all
and to celebrate the benefits of diversity. The focus will be Rights,
Representation, Recognition and Respect:
Rights – Raising awareness of the right to equality and
non-discrimination and of the problem of multiple discrimination. The Year will
make groups that are at risk of discrimination more aware of their rights and
existing European legislation in the field of non-discrimination.
Representation – The Year will encourage reflection and
discussion on the need to promote greater participation of these groups in
society, and greater involvement in actions designed to combat discrimination,
in all sectors and at all levels.
Recognition – The Year will emphasise the positive contribution
that people, irrespective of their sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or
belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, can make to society as a whole,
in particular by accentuating the benefits of diversity.
Respect – The Year will raise awareness of the importance of
eliminating stereotypes, prejudice and violence, promoting good relations
between all in society, especially among young people, and disseminating the
values underlying the fight against discrimination.
What will concretely happen during the Year?
The Year will kick off in Berlin on January 30th 2007 at the first
ever European Equality summit. One of the main initiatives of the Year, it will
bring together EU leaders, Equality Ministers and senior Representatives of
civil society. Overall the Year will provide a unique opportunity for people to
learn about, exchanges ideas and debate the issue of diversity. The campaign
will be highly decentralised and hundreds of events will be organised at local,
regional, national, cross-border and European level. Because of the Year's
decentralised approach activities will continue beyond the EYEO, creating a
lasting impact on the ground.
Activities during the Year include: diversity awards for employers, school
competitions on the themes of respect and tolerance, training for media and
trade unions on issues relating to anti-discrimination, sports events organised
around the them of diversity. For examples of proposed projects per country, see
table below.
What are the possible outcomes of the Year?
A Year is by definition only made up of 12 months, but the idea of the Year
is to put diversity – which is a fact of life in Europe – on the
agenda of all the participating countries in 2007. This will have long-lasting
effects beyond 2007 itself. To ensure this happens, the good ideas and
successful results generated during the Year will be taken up and continued
under the new EU employment and social solidarity programme called PROGRESS
– to fund EU activities in anti-discrimination and gender equality and
among others from 2007 until 2013.
Which countries will participate in the Year?
The Year is open to the 27 EU Member States, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and
Norway.
What is the budget of the Year?
The whole budget for the Year amounts to €15 million, covering
activities at EU level on the one hand and at national, regional and local
levels on the other. €7.65 million will be allocated to activities at
these national, regional and local levels. As each participating country will
have to match the share it receives from the EU funding with 50% of co-financing
from either public or private sources, or both. Approx €16 million is
expected to be spent be spent on activities at national level. The share of
funding per country will divided in line with the number of votes at the
Council.
Bigger countries will receive in and around €600,000 and the smaller
Member States are set to receive around €120,000. €5 million will be
dedicated to the pan-European information campaign. For details per country see
table below.
Who decides on the activities for the Year?
European-wide programmes and activities are set up by the European
Commission. Activities at national level are identified by the National
Implementing Bodies (NIBs) which have been designated by the participating
countries. NIBs will be the administrative authorities or equivalent, with
competence and proven experience in the fight against discrimination.
What are the tasks of the National Implementing Bodies?
The NIBs are responsible for defining their respective national strategies
and priorities for the Year, and for identifying the individual activities to be
implemented to meet the objectives of these national strategies. In carrying out
their tasks, NIBs must consult on a regular basis and cooperate closely with
civil society. These include organisations defending or representing the
interests of people potentially exposed to discrimination, and with other
relevant stakeholders.
How will the European-wide Information and Promotional Campaign
work?
The EYEO European-wide information and promotional campaign is designed to
communicate and engage with the public in all MS. It aims to achieve social
change: one of the campaign’s main objectives is to promote diversity as
an asset. The campaign, underway in all Member States, also aims to make people
in the European Union more aware of their rights to enjoy equal treatment and a
life free of discrimination. The campaign will bring the Year’s messages
to a wider audience.
Where can I find the programme and funding details of activities for each
country?
See table below.
2007 - European Year of Equal Opportunities
for All - A quick glance across the 30 participating countries
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Federal Ministry for Economy & Labour
|
Susanne Piffl-Pavelec
|
EU: €215,250.00
|
A large national information and promotional campaign on rights and equal
opportunities
|
Stubenring 1
|
Susanne.piffl-pavelec@bmwa.gv.at
|
National: €215,250.00
|
|
1010 Vienna Department III/10
|
Tel.: +43 1 711 00 65 85 www.bmwa.gv.at
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Centre for equal opportunities Rue Royale, 138 1000 Brussels
|
Nadine Brauns EU2007@cntr.be Tel.: +32 02 212 30
00 www.diversite.be
|
EU: €258,300.00 National: €259,055.00
|
1. The "Universal design" week, focusing on handicap and
accessibility
|
|
|
|
2. Special training for teachers to deal with homophobia
|
|
|
|
3. Creation of "equal opportunities" cheques to promote small initiatives
in that field
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy 2, Triaditza Str. 1051
Sofia
|
Lilia Abadjieva l.abadjieva@mlsp.government.bg Tel.: +359 2 811 94
18
|
EU: 215,250.00 National: €231,130.00
|
1. Media campaign with representatives and actors of the communities and
groups at potential risk of discrimination
|
|
Dimitar Bojilov
|
|
2. Activating children and youth Parliaments
|
|
dbojilov@mlsp.government.bg
|
|
|
|
Tel.: +359 2 811 94 39
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Justice & Public Order 125, Athalassas Avenue Nicosia
1461
|
Ekaterini Andreou eandreou@mjpo.gov.cy Tel.: + 357 22 80 59
22 Fax:+ 357 22 80 59 69
|
EU: €120,000.00 National: €120,000.00
|
1. Distribution of a DVD about gender inequalities in domestic life
|
|
Christina Laoudas
|
|
2. Launch of a campaign called "Sexual orientation : myths and
realities
|
|
|
|
3. Employers Guide for the promotion of Equality and Diversity in the
Workplace
|
|
Fax: +357 22 80 59 69
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
The Office of the Government of the Czech Republic Human Rights
Unit
|
Czeslaw Walek walek.czeslaw@vlada.cz Tel.
+420 296 153 358
|
EU: €249,183.00 National: €249,183.00
|
1. Campaign to eliminate prejudice towards the Roma and explain the
principle of inclusion thanks to multicultural education at pre-school
facilities, primary and secondary schools
|
Nábř. E. Beneše 4 118 01 Prague
|
Fax: +420 296 153 257 Website: www.vlada.cz
|
|
2. The project Equality is cool : focus on a youth audience with the use of
15 documentary films
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Department of Gender Equality Homens Kanal 22 1060 Copenhagen K
|
Gorm Fogh Scherfig lige@lige.dk Tel. +45 33 92 33 11
|
EU: €150,600.00 National: € 939,000.00
|
1. Diversity in Working Life Awards for private and public enterprises
actively promoting diversity
|
|
|
|
2. Large distribution of a "diversity calendar" that enumerates all
relevant red-letter days for various population groups
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia European Coordination and
International Relations Department
|
Heili Jõe heili.joe@sm.ee Tel.: +372 62 69 242
|
EU: €100,000.00 National: €100,000.00
|
1. A two-day international conference “Religion tolerance –
opportunity, obligation, responsibility linked to the annual Tartu Film
Festival
|
Gonsiori 29 15027 Tallinn
|
|
|
2. Distribution of materials on discrimination in schools
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Labour Mikonkatu 4, PL 34 00023 Valtioneuvosto
|
Sinikka Keskinen sinikka.keskinen@mol.fi Tel.: +358 10 60 47 040
|
EU: € 150,600.00 National: € 150,600.00
|
1. Respect Fest, an equal opportunity festival, will be organised in
Helsinki city centre Bus Terminal market place wit music (top artists),
NGO-desks, story tellers, etc.
|
|
or +358 50 39 60 146 Website: www.equality.fi and www.mol.fi
|
|
2. Home for Christmas –event will be organised in museums at the end
of the year to introduce the diversity of religions and beliefs (exhibitions and
other activities)
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
High Authority for Combating Discriminations and for Equality 11 rue
St-Georges 75009 Paris
|
Néphèli
Yatropoulos nepheli.yatropoulos@halde.fr Tel.: +33 1 55 31 61
33 Fax: +33 1 55 31 61 49 Website: www.halde.fr
|
EU: € 624,000.00 National: € 624,000.00
|
1. Job orientation assistance for young migrants 2. A theatre forum will
go to basic school to rise awareness on gender equality
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Federal ministry for family affairs, senior citizens, women and youth
|
Roland Simon Roland.Simon@bmfsfj.bund.de
|
EU: € 624,100.00 National: €808,846.00
|
1. An "Equal Opportunities" Award for enterprises promoting diversity
policies
|
Department of International Affairs 11018 Berlin
|
Tel.: +49 30 206 55 10 42 Fax: +49 30 206 55 41 042
|
|
2. Diversity as Opportunity : Diversity in enterprises in Germany, a huge
one day conference
|
National Agency "European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007"
|
Dr. Christine Franzius
|
|
|
Oranienburger Str. 13-14
|
christine.franzius@bag-wohlfahrt.de
|
|
|
10178 Berlin
|
Tel. +49 30 240 89 119
|
|
|
|
Fax: +49 30 240 89 133
|
|
|
|
Website: www.bagfw.de
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Employment and Social Protection
|
Katerina Chryssochoou
|
EU: €257,894,00
|
1. Analysis of the situation of people older than 50 by collecting
advertisements on jobs in the local newspaper at a regional level
|
Pireos 40
|
ypergdkp@otenet.gr
|
National: € 257,894,00
|
|
101 82 Athens
|
Tel.: +30 210 52 95 209 193
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Minimum funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour
|
Endre M. Sík
|
EU: €258,300.00
|
1. Photos and drawing contests will be organised around the thematic of
diversity
|
Department of Equal Opportunities Alkotmány u. 3
|
|
National: € 258,300.00
|
2. The national Equal opportunity Network – House of Equal
Opportunities will try to build network, give legal advice, etc.
|
1054 Budapest
|
Fax: +361 332 67 54
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Social Affairs
|
Tel.: +354 545 81 00
|
EU: €119,774,00 National: €119,774,00
|
|
150 Reykjavik
|
Fax: +354 552 48 04
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
The Equality Authority
|
Niall Crowley ncrowley@equality.ie
|
EU: €150,600.00 National: €311.400.00
|
1. Launch of a campaign called Older and bolder to fight against
stereotypes linked to ageing and disability
|
2 Clonmel Street Dublin 2
|
Tel.: + 353 1 417 33 30 Fax: + 353 1 417 33 31
|
|
2. Support of an institutional capacity within the public sector to
accommodate diversity, promote equality and combat discrimination by supporting
institutions
|
|
Carole Sullivan
|
|
|
|
csullivan@equality.ie
|
|
|
|
Tel.: + 353 1 417 33 61
|
|
|
|
Fax: + 353 1 417 33 77
|
|
|
|
www.equality.ie
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Department for rights and equal opportunities Secretary office
|
Silvia della Monica antidiscriminazioni@pariopportunita.gov.it
|
EU: €624,100.00 National: €624,100.00
|
1. Antiracist World Cup is a five days happening of football, basketball,
music, debates, aiming to fight racism no play field , especially discrimination
against women and girls in sports
|
Antidiscrimination Unit - UNAR
|
Tel. +39 06 6779 2267
|
|
2. Actions dedicated to the promotion of Roma's rights
|
L.go Chigi 19
|
Fax: +39 06 6779 2272
|
|
|
00187 Rome
|
www.pariopportunita.gov.it
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Society integration Elizabetes iela 20 1050 Riga
|
Ilze Hermane-Sipkova ilze.hermane@integracija.gov.lv Tel.: +371 736
53 39 Fax: +371 736 53 35
|
EU: €100,130.00 National: € 100,130.00
|
1. Development and implementation of promotional and educational campaign
in order to increase awareness and tolerance of the general public towards
discriminated groups of the society
|
|
|
|
2. Youth Theatre Plays about Intolerance in Latvia nowdays
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Office of Equal Opportunities Aeulestrasse 51 9490 Vaduz
|
Bernadette Kubik-Risch Tel.: +423 236 60 60
|
EU: € 95,000.00
|
1. Babylon Slam, a mix of Ethno-Poetry-Slam and theatre improvisation,
will be organised at the Literaturhaus Liechtenstein
|
|
Fax: +423 236 65 60
|
National: € 95,000.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson
|
Indre Mackeviciute inmack@lrs.lt
|
EU: € 150,600.00 National: € 150,600.00
|
1. "Diversity award" for the "Journalist of the Year"
|
Šeimyniškių 1A 09312 Vilnius
|
Tel.: +370 5 2612740 Mobile +370 612 27900
|
|
2. "Diversity Junior Award" for the winner of an essay competition on
diversity organised in schools across Lithuania
|
|
Fax +370 5 2612725 www.lygybe.lrs.lt
|
|
3. A cycle of documentary films prepared in cooperation with one of the TV
stations. The films will focus on the issues of human rights and
non-discrimination (covering different aspects of all the grounds of
discrimination) and be broadcasted throughout the Year.
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Government Commission for Foreigners
|
Christiane Martin
|
EU: € 120,000.00
|
1. A documentary will be produced to present the contribution made to
society by women refugees in Luxembourg
|
12-14, ave Emile Reuter
|
Christiane.Martin@fm.etat.lu
|
National: € 120,000.00
|
|
2420 Luxembourg
|
Tel.: +352 478 36 10
|
|
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity Department of Social
Security 38, Ordnance Street Valletta CMR 02
|
Philip Farrugia Randon pip@onvol.net Joyce
Borg josephine.a.borg@gov.mt
|
EU: € 120,000.00 National: € 120,000.00
|
1. Elaboration of a diversity Charter for the work place and actions in
that field
|
|
Tel.: + 356 25 90 32 33 Fax: + 356 25 90 32 34
|
|
2. Contest among humorists to award the best sketch about diversity
|
|
|
|
3. Round table for lawyers to share the latest legislation on equal
opportunities
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
National implementing body Postbus 40107 8017 JK Zwolle
|
Tineke de Nooij c.de.nooij@agentschapszw.nl Tel.: +31 06 22 38 49
76
|
EU: € 279,000.00 National: € 280,111.00
|
1. The organising committee of the museum night (referred to as MuseumN8)
will use "Equal Opportunities" as a theme for this year’s event and will
invite five specific participating museums to take part in this theme,
preferably together with anti-discrimination organisations
|
|
Roger de Boer r.de.boer@agentschapszw.nl
|
|
2. Equal opportunity city trip Amsterdam will propose a guided tour on the
anti-discrimination thematic
|
|
Tel.: +31 06 22 38 38 21
|
|
3. Workshop will be organised for opinion leaders like journalists and
teachers, and religious pastors. The focus will be on equal opportunities in
general and the aim is to increase their knowledge of the legal infrastructure
of Equal treatment and Equal opportunities
|
Norway
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
The Equality and Anti-discrimination Ombud Grensen 5-7 P.O.Box: 8048
Dep 0031 Oslo
|
Mona Dia Tel.: +47 24 05 59 50 Fax: +47 24 05 59 60 Website:
www.ldo.no
|
EU: € 150,600.00 National: € 194,140.00
|
1. Actions to increase women representation in sports 2. Disabled
ambassadors in the primary schools 3. Equality and non-discrimination rally
race for NHO members. (Confederation of Norwegian enterprises)
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Department for Women Family and Counteracting Discrimination Ministry of
Labour and Social Policy ul. Szopena 1 00-599 Warsaw
|
Monika Ksieniewicz Monika.Ksieniewicz@mps.gov.pl Tel.: +48 022 52 00
410 Fax: +48 022 52 00 451
Paweł
Czarnecki pawel.czarnecki@mps.gov.pl Tel.: +48 022 520 0435
|
EU: €581,100.00 National: € 581.100.00
|
1. Media training for journalists on the subject of discrimination, its
symptoms, and preventive regulations which are binding in the European Union.
2.Festival of tolerance—a three-day event full of performances, film
shows, exhibitions, and panel discussions devoted to tolerance, discrimination,
and human rights 3. An exhibition will be staged with the use of advanced
audio-visual technologies, archival documents, documentaries, and presentations
on the daily life of the Roma's, their tradition, custom, and history on Polish
soil.
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
CIDM-Commission for Equality and Women’s Rights Av.
República, 32-1 1050-193 Lisbon
|
Ana Paula Fitas anapaula.fitas@cidm.pt Elza
Pais elza.pais@cidm.pt
|
EU: € 258,300.00 National: € 260.276.00
|
1. The Parliamentary Session for Equality in Diversity – Towards an
Inclusive Society will take place in the Assembly of the Republic, coinciding
with the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union.
|
|
Tel.: +351 21 798 30 24 Fax: +351 21 797 59
99 www.cidm.madbug.com
|
|
2. An initiative will award the best school Paper on multiple
discriminations and equal treatment and opportunities under the theme
“European Year of Equal Opportunities for All”, in articulation with
the Ministry of Education.
|
|
|
|
3. Mobile Truck: Exhibit of pedagogic and learning materials of civic
awareness of the European Year across the country (including autonomous regions)
in order to promote the social utility representation of diversity and peaceful
coexistence.
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Labor, Social Solidarity and Family Address: 2-4, Dem .I.
Dobrescu Street, Sector 1, Bucharest
|
Andra Croitoru andra.croitoru@anes.ro
|
EU: € 301,300.00 National: € 301,300.00
|
1. Organising a marathon for diversity : using sport as bridge within
people
|
|
Marian Tanase marian.tanase@anes.ro Tel.: +40 21 316 20 44 Fax:
+40 21 316 20 43
|
|
2. Exploring multiple discriminations during an equality week, via thematic
contests, minorities' festival, theatrical plays on sexual orientation, etc.
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Slovak Republic Government Office Section of Human Rights and
Minorities Námestie slobody 1 813 70 Bratislava 1
|
Milan Vrbovsky milan.vrbovsky@vlada.gov.sk Tel. +421 2 5729
5367 Fax: +421 2 5729 5424
|
EU: € 150,600.00 National: € 152,257.00
|
1. An action called "We are here – The days of otherness" aims at
making persons with different sexual orientation more visible as part of the
Slovak and European society (this includes a theather performance on the paly
"Beyond Therapy" and an art competition entitled "Coming Out-Art –
accompanying event of the Euro Gay Games 2007)
|
|
L'ubica Zajacová Lubica.zajacova@vlada.gov.sk Tel.: 421 2 5729
5311 www.mensiny.vlada.gov.sk
|
|
2. A project of the non-governmental organisation “People against
Racism” plans to verify, through field testing, whether the state
authorities, territorial self-government authorities, and interest associations,
but also natural persons and legal entities comply with their obligations
imposed by the anti-discrimination law.
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Kotnikova 5 1000
Ljubljana
|
Cveto URŠIČ cveto.ursic@gov.si Tel.: +386 1 369 75
38 Fax: +386 1 369 75 64
|
EU: € 120,000.00 National: € 243,608.00
|
1. An anti-discrimination training for Media and Equality will be organised
by the Peace Institute
|
|
|
|
2. 50 weekly programmes and 12 special monthly programmes will be dedicated
to the European Year
|
|
|
|
3. The festival “Play with me” will comprise an art
competition, a competition for participating in dramatic and animation shows, a
call for the participation of school and institutional musical groups of other
children and adolescents, and a call for participation in a fashion show,
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Directorate-General for the Integration of Migrants C/José Abascal,
39 28003 MADRID
|
Amapola Blasco Marhuenda oberaxe@mtas.es Tel.: +34 91 36 31 619
|
EU: € 581,000.00 National: € 702,656.00
|
1. Materials for persons who are victims of discrimination in
socio-professional area 2. Study about the treatment of information
concerning immigration in Spain
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
The Delegation for Human Rights in Sweden 10333 Stockholm
|
Marie Stenman Marie.stenman@justice.ministry.se Tel.: +46 8 40 53
511
|
EU: € 215,250.00 National: € 320,506
|
1. Urix, an annual youth conference, will arrange platforms for youths to
meet to discuss discrimination and the goals of the European Year
|
|
2. Lisa Syrén, one of the hosts for the popular radio programme
Karlavagnen, will air two programs during 2007 with the theme human rights and
discrimination
|
|
Contact
|
Funding
|
Examples of planned projects
|
Commission for Equality and Human Rights Kingsgate House
|
|
EU: € 624,100 National: € 640,000.00
|
1. Engaging young people as one of the groups least involved in local
communities. Dealing with very localised conflicts between rights, using human
rights are a framework
|
66-74 Victoria Street London SW1E 6SW
|
|
|
2. Intercultural Week will take place in Ireland, North and South during
the week 18h - 24th March 2007. The week incorporates the UN International Day
against Racial discrimination.
|
|