Equality bodies and Equinet – Promoting equality in Europe

What are equality bodies? Why do we need them? What challenges do they face? This brochure aims to raise awareness about the role of and challenges faced by equality bodies at national and EU level, but also, on the way they can cooperate and bring added value to the work of stakeholders in their daily work.

The work of Equinet, European network of equality bodies is also outlined. The network promotes equality in Europe by supporting and enabling the work of equality bodies to be independent and effective catalysts for more equal societies.

A useful list of Equinet members and the grounds of discrimination covered per country is also available.

Updated: March 2019

What are equality bodies?

Equality bodies are public institutions set up across Europe to promote equality and tackle discrimination on grounds of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, religion and belief, disability or other grounds. They play a fundamental role in the non-discrimination architecture of the EU.

Their role is defined in accordance with EU equal treatment legislation requiring Member States to set up equality bodies to combat discrimination based on race and ethnic origin , as well as gender . Many Member States have gone beyond these requirements and ensured that equality bodies can also deal with discrimination based on other grounds.

These bodies have a distinct role from national governments and civil society organisations. They promote equality and ensure that equal treatment legislation is applied by:

• Investigating cases of discrimination
• Building a culture that values equality, diversity and non-discrimination
• Providing information and in some cases legal support to potential victims
• Monitoring and reporting on discrimination issues
• Conducting research and providing policy recommendations
• Engaging with public bodies, employers and NGOs to foster non-discriminatory practices and ensure awareness and compliance with equal treatment legislation

Why do we need equality bodies?

Equality bodies are at the heart of the national infrastructure for equality, cooperating with all relevant equality stakeholders. They are authoritative voices in matters of equality and non-discrimination. As a first point of contact for victims of discrimination, they have an extensive understanding of how discrimination affects people in Europe and they can provide reliable “on the ground” information about the existing challenges.

What challenges do equality bodies face?

BACKLASH AGAINST EQUALITY

Equality bodies and other equality stakeholders have been working in an increasingly challenging environment where social consensus on the value of equality is being challenged and discriminatory statements, policies and actions that are illegal and have been unacceptable are being normalised. Equality bodies have a crucial role and responsibility to remind Member States, institutions and all Europeans that equality and non-discrimination are fundamental European values and, ultimately, hold to account violators of equality legislation.

IMPLEMENTING STRONG EUROPEAN STANDARDS

EU Directives remain limited to providing for the establishment of equality bodies and vesting them with a minimum set of functions. However, this broad framework has led to very diverse levels of protection against discrimination across Member States.
To fulfill their potential and maximise their impact, standards on the independence, effectiveness, functions and powers of equality bodies have been recommended by the European Commission and the Council of Europe. The effective implementation and monitoring of these standards at European and Member State level will be one of our common challenges for the coming years.

What does Equinet, European Network of Equality Bodies do?

Equinet provides a first point of contact at the European level for information relating to equality bodies. We facilitate engagement with equality bodies across Europe and provide relevant information about their experience with various equality and non-discrimination topics.

We can do this because Equinet is the unique platform of equality bodies in Europe, with 49 member organisations from 36 countries (including all EU Member States). The Network is co-funded by the European Commission and Equinet’s member organisations.

OUR MISSION

• Promoting equality in Europe by supporting and enabling the work of national equality bodies.
• Supporting equality bodies to be independent and effective catalysts for more equal societies.

OUR ACTIVITIES

• Support – Capacity-building activities with and for equality body staff, as well as support to equality bodies in need of solidarity.
• Networking – Knowledge exchange, sharing of good practices and peer-to-peer support among equality bodies, as well as with equality stakeholders.
• Research and Knowledge Hub – Legal and policy research to inform European policy and legislative developments, and provide relevant knowledge to those interested in equality and non-discrimination in Europe.
• Expert Advice –Contribution to the European equality agenda with expert advice on equality and non-discrimination policy and legislation, based on the experience of equality bodies.
• Promotion – Promoting equality as a European value.