Developing Standards for Equality Bodies
Developing Standards for Equality Bodies
Authors: Niall Crowley
This Working Paper is based on discussions that took place during the Equinet Cluster on Standards in 2015, as well as contributions and comments provided since then by Equinet members.
It seeks to establish positions that equality bodies could promote, negotiate and advance vis-à-vis European and national administrations in the establishment of standards for equality bodies at European level and their implementation at national level.
EU Directives require all EU Members States, accession countries and EEA countries to designate an equality body for the promotion of equal treatment. However, the Directives only provide minimum standards for the competences and limited functional independence of equality bodies and do not guarantee complete independence, effectiveness, sufficient powers and adequate resources for equality bodies.
This Working Paper combines a concern to include minimum basic standards alongside standards that would ensure the full potential of an equality body is achieved. It does so to ensure that standards recognise and:
- Enable the particular role, capabilities, and potential of equality bodies.
- Respond to the wider institutional architecture in which equality bodies are located.
- Address the changed context for equality bodies and new trends and evolution in their establishment, mandates, and operation.
Working Paper (Serbian – cyrillic)
Working Paper (Serbian – latin)
