Expert Groups are where the most up-to-date knowledge is collected in the given area, where gaps and needs for further work are identified and peer to peer exchange and support happens. Equinet relies on the Expert Groups to create new knowledge on innovative issues, based on their on-the-ground experience of equality and non-discrimination at the national level. This unique insight feeds the majority of our publications and forms the base of Equinet’s research and knowledge hub.
Find here complete overview of Equinet events , including the scheduled meetings for expert groups.
Working Groups
The Equinet Working Groups are an essential part of the inner functioning of the Network. Composed of expert staff from member organisations, Working Groups are the central platforms for effective cooperation and sharing of expertise among Equality Bodies. Members share their experiences, challenges and good practices, and discuss questions relevant to their field of work. This process provides an opportunity for peer learning and at the same time, helps Equinet to collect and produce fact-based information from its members.Clusters
Composed of expert staff from member organisations, Equinet Clusters focus on specific topics. Their objective is to provide a platform for Equinet members to exchange good practices, while also building their capacity by enabling engagement with policy and legal developments in the thematic area of the Cluster. Members of the Clusters collaborate to help steer Equinet’s activities on the given topic, thereby further ensuring their relevance and added value for both Equality Bodies and external stakeholders.Communication Strategies and Practices
This Working Group encourages sharing of communication successes, challenges and good practices on any aspects of communication that are relevant to the work of National Equality Bodies, including promotion, cooperation, planning and monitoring.
Topics Covered in 2024:- Awareness-raising: developing and maintaining good media relations/li>
- Exploring practical and ethical issues surrounding the use of Artificial Intelligence in communication
Secretariat Coordinator: Teresa Pedreira – teresa.pedreira@equineteurope.org
Equality Law in Practice
This Working Group focuses on sharing information about legal developments regarding antidiscrimination legislation at a transnational level. It looks at Equality and non discrimination legal developments at UN, CoE, EU and national level and it monitors ECtHR with the objective of presenting an amicus curiae brief.
Topics Covered in 2024:
Equality Bodies providing their expert opinion in courts
Equality Bodies using situation testing
Contact:
Secretariat Coordinator: Jone Elizondo-Urrestarazu – jone.elizondo@equineteurope.org
Secretariat Coordinator: Jone Elizondo-Urrestarazu – jone.elizondo@equineteurope.org
Gender Equality
This Working Group is a platform of experts in gender equality within Equality Bodies providing peer exchange opportunities and compiling knowledge from the ground, all over Europe.
Topics Covered in 2024:
Secretariat Coordinator: Moana Genevey – moana.genevey@equineteurope.org
- Equality Bodies promoting the rights of rainbow families
- Equality Bodies working towards LGBTIQ+ equality
- Gender equality and Artificial Intelligence
Secretariat Coordinator: Moana Genevey – moana.genevey@equineteurope.org
Policy Formation
This Working Group acts as hub of experts and a platform to exchange experiences, challenges and good practices that National Equality Bodies face when working on policy issues related to equality and non-discrimination.
Topics Covered in 2024:
Policy guidance on EU Equality Strategies
Equality Bodies using situation testing
Contact:
Secretariat Coordinator: Tamás Kádár – tamas.kadar@equineteurope.org
Secretariat Coordinator: Tamás Kádár – tamas.kadar@equineteurope.org
Research and Data Collection
This Working Group acts as a platform of experts for promoting communication among National Equality Bodies and sharing of experiences and best practice examples for research and data collection on equality and anti-discrimination.It also coordinates engagement with regional actors such as the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency.
Topics Covered in 2024:
Secretariat Coordinators:
Daris Lewis Recio – daris.lewis@equineteurope.org
Milla Vidina – milla.vidina@equineteurope.org
- Equality Bodies using situation testing
Secretariat Coordinators:
Daris Lewis Recio – daris.lewis@equineteurope.org
Milla Vidina – milla.vidina@equineteurope.org
Artificial Intelligence
Initially a Cluster, this Working Group collaborates to develop capacity-building resources to support equality bodies in the development, monitoring and impact assessment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. The Working Group also provides input to ongoing AI-related regulatory developments at the European level.
Topics Covered in 2024:
Secretariat Coordinator: Milla Vidina – milla.vidina@equineteurope.org
- Equality Bodies implementing the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA)
- Gender Equality and Artificial Intelligence
- Exploring practical and ethical issues surrounding the use of Artificial Intelligence in communication
Secretariat Coordinator: Milla Vidina – milla.vidina@equineteurope.org
Age
This Cluster brings together experts to exchange experiences, challenges and best practice examples for the promotion of equality on age. This Cluster also provides an opportunity to engage and learn about International and European legal and policy developments. This cluster supports National Equality Bodies in promoting age equality and non-discrimination as well as engaging with actors at the International and European level
Topic Covered in 2024:
Living conditions for older persons: accessibility, infrastructure & habitat
Contact:
Secretariat Coordinator Daris Lewis Recio – daris.lewis@equineteurope.org
Secretariat Coordinator Daris Lewis Recio – daris.lewis@equineteurope.org
Disability
This Cluster brings disability experts together in order to exchange work priorities and developments and learn about international and european policy and legal developments.
Topic Covered in 2024:
Living conditions for [persons with disabilities: accessibility, infrastructure & habitat
Contact:
Secretariat Coordinator Jone Elizondo-Urrestarazu – jone.elizondo@equineteurope.org
Secretariat Coordinator Jone Elizondo-Urrestarazu – jone.elizondo@equineteurope.org
Project: Standards for Equality Bodies
While this group is not is not part of the permanent working structure of Equinet, the Standards Project leads the Network on its response to the proposed initiative to set binding minimum standards for Equality Bodies. Composed of high-level staff from member organisations, the project brings members together to share their experiences and challenges around their advocacy work, discuss relevant questions and work towards supporting the adoption and implementation of the directives. Equinet uses the practical experience and expertise of Equality Bodies to develop indicators in order to measure compliance with standards for Equality Bodies. These indicators can contribute to measuring adherence to the standards.
In 2024, 3 mini-workshops on Standards for Equality Bodies will be organised.
Contact:
Secretariat Coordinator: Tamás Kádár – tamas.kadar@equineteurope.org
Secretariat Coordinator: Tamás Kádár – tamas.kadar@equineteurope.org
If you are an Equinet member staff, log into the Equinet CRM to review/update your team's particiation in these groups.
If you need futher assistance, contact Teresa Pedreira (teresa.pedreira@equineteurope.org)