Call for Research Proposals: “Other grounds” in equality legislation – focus on health and socio-economic status
Equinet invites experts to put forward their proposals for a study on the addition of “other grounds” to equality legislation, with a focus on health status and socio-economic status.”
Deadline: Extended to 15 April 2021!
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The lack of comprehensive protection in EU law against discrimination on all grounds has long been raised as an issue. Further to this, the COVID-19 pandemic powerfully exposed the limitations of the current list of discrimination grounds in the equality and non-discrimination law of the European Union.
Fixing the number of grounds to only six, as is the case at the EU level, potentially means excluding and undermining the significance of whole categories and manifestations of unjust exclusion and subordination, such as those based on criteria and identity markers different than gender, race and ethnic origin, disability, religion or belief, age, or sexual orientation. For instance, inequalities based on health status (those conditions not covered by the UNCRPD definition of disability) and socio-economic status, which have been and continue to be at the forefront of the societal harm and individual suffering inflicted by the ongoing global pandemic, deserve further attention. It is noteworthy that a large number of European countries have decided to extend the list of protected grounds or apply an open-ended list in their national equality laws.
We are looking for an expert/s to produce an Equinet paper with the following overarching objectives:
- Analyse the uses and added value of ‘other grounds’ (i.e. grounds in addition to the six protected characteristics set by EU equality directives) in national, European and international legal fora, with an emphasis on health status and socio-economic status;
- Develop a list of advantages and disadvantages of having the list of protected grounds expanded (again with a focus on health status and socio-economic status) for the purpose of strengthening the effectiveness of the European anti-discrimination legal framework and its implementation;
- Showcase promising examples of the use of “other grounds” by equality bodies, with specific attention to health status and socio-economic status, in order for relevant legislators, at both the national and European level, to gain a better understanding of the need to expand the existing list of protected grounds in national and European legislation and of the crucial role of national equality bodies in both guiding and implementing this expansion of the protected grounds;
- Showcase promising examples of the use of “other grounds” by other relevant actors at the national, European and international levels, with specific attention to health status and socio-economic status, in order to equip legal and policy experts from equality bodies with arguments for promoting the adoption and use of relevant new grounds in their national legislation.
ARE YOU THE EXPERT/S WE ARE LOOKING FOR?
Can you demonstrate:
- A track record of research work in the field of equality and human rights, and, in particular, in relation to the institutions established in this field
- Publication(s) in the field of EU equal treatment law
- Good knowledge of the work of national equality bodies and their diversity
- Excellent drafting skills in English
If so, send us your proposal!
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
A detailed proposal of the suggested approach, methodology and timeline as well as proposed budget and expert CV(s) needs to be submitted by 15 April 2021 to the attention of:
Tamás Kádár, Equinet Deputy Executive Director and Head of Legal and Policy
Email: tamas.kadar@equineteurope.org
Phone number: 0032 2 212 3183
CONTACT PERSON FOR QUERIES
Milla Vidina, Equinet Policy Officer
Email: milla.vidina@equineteurope.org
Phone number: +32 (0)2 212 3185
TIMEFRAME
The indicative timeframe for the commissioned paper is as follows:
- Submission date: Extended to 15 April 2021
- Result of the selection process: 30 April 2021
- Start of the work: beginning of May 2021
- Present interim results to Equinet based on desk research, survey results and interviews conducted: first week of August 2021
- The contractor might be invited to present the preliminary findings of the paper at the Equinet Annual General Meeting in autumn 2021
- Completion of work expected by end of December 2021
BUDGET
The maximum budget for the commissioning of this paper is 15.000 EUR (excluding VAT).
Costs for travel (if and as necessary) or relating to presentation/discussion of the paper will be covered by Equinet separately (if and as necessary).