On Wednesday 7th December 2016, Equinet organised the conference “Diverse, Inclusive and Equal: Innovating at the intersections of gender equality”. The event was hosted by the Belgian Institute for the Equality of Women and Men in Brussels.
Background
Tackling intersectional discrimination and ensuring an approach to promoting equality that takes account of multiple identities is a pervasive challenge both for European non-discrimination law, and for equality bodies seeking to protect groups in the most vulnerable positions.
In order to strengthen equality bodies’ strategic approach to addressing intersectional discrimination and to promoting equality on an intersectional basis, as well as to continue raising awareness about intersectional discrimination in the European agenda, Equinet’s working groups on Policy Formation and Gender Equality have cooperated to draft a Perspective on Innovating at the Intersections – Equality Bodies Tackling Intersectional Discrimination.
Objectives
The conference aimed to:
- Provide a platform to discuss the challenges in promoting an intersectional approach to equality and in litigating intersectional discrimination
- Present the conclusions of the 2016 Equinet Perspective “Innovating at the Intersections – Equality Bodies Tackling Intersectional Discrimination”
- Set out a vision for future work to promote an intersectional approach to equality and to combat intersectional discrimination
Summary
Summary Report (PDF)
Summary Report (Word)
Speakers’ Presentations
OPENING SESSION
- Evelyn Collins, Chair of the Equinet Executive Board and Chief Executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
- Liesbet Stevens, Deputy Director, Institute for the Equality of Women and Men
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
- Intersectionality’s persistent challenge to anti-discrimination law: the problem of the comparator – Professor Suzanne B. Goldberg, Columbia Law School
SESSION 1 – Setting the Scene – Challenges in applying intersectionality in discrimination cases
Chair: Evelyn Collins, Chair of the Equinet Executive Board and Chief Executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
- Overview of current EU legislation: state of play and challenges – Professor Dagmar Schiek, Queen’s University of Belfast
- Intersectionality in national legislations: The U.S. Perspective – Peggy R. Mastroianni, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
(Selected Cases and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Policy Documents Addressing Intersectional Discrimination) - On the ground: legal challenges in the work of equality bodies – Kosana Beker, Assistant to the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, Commissioner for Protection of Equality, Serbia and Equinet Board Member
SESSION 2 – Overcoming legislative gaps and understanding intersectionality and multiple discrimination
Chair: Sandra Konstatzky, Deputy Director, Ombud for Equal Treatment, Austria and Equinet Board Member
- Presentation of the Equinet Perspective – Niall Crowley, Independent Expert and author of the Equinet Perspective
- Looking for evidence: presentation of the findings of the project “Forgotten Women: the impact of Islamophobia on Muslim women” – Julie Pascoët, Senior Advocacy Officer, European Network against Racism (ENAR)
- Informing policy makers: the work of the German equality body – Nathalie Schlenzka, Deputy Head, Research Unit, Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (FADA), Germany
SESSION 3 – Looking Forward – Avenues for addressing intersectional discrimination
Chair: Petr Polák, Head of the Division of Equal Treatment, Public Defender of Rights, Czech Republic and Equinet Board Member
Panel discussion with:
- Marre Karu, European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
- Theresa Hammer, Legal Advisor, Ombud for Equal Treatment, Austria & Moderator of Equinet Working Group on Gender Equality
- Joanna Maycock, Secretary General, European Women’s Lobby
- Alexandra Timmer, Acting specialist coordinator gender equality –European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination
CONCLUDING SESSION
- Anne Gaspard, Equinet Executive Director
Photos
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| Diverse, Inclusive and Equal: Innovating at the intersections of gender equality – Brussels, 7 December 2016 |
Funding
