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Equality bodies

Bodies for the promotion of equal treatment and non-discrimination

What is the role of equality bodies?

Equality bodies promote equal treatment by providing independent assistance to victims of discrimination, conducting independent surveys, publishing independent reports and making recommendations on matters relating to discrimination. They were first established by the Racial* Equality Directive (2000/43/EC).

Three subsequent equality directives entrusted equality bodies with the same missions in their respective field: the Gender Equality Directive in the field of goods and services (2004/113/EC), the Gender Equality Directive in the field of employment (2006/54/EC) and the Gender Equality Directive in the field of self-employment (2010/41/EU). The latter two have added the additional mission of exchanging information with corresponding European bodies.

* The use of the term ‘racial’ in the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU and Council Directive 2000/43/EC (‘Racial Equality Directive’) does not imply any acceptance by the European Union of theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.

Assistance in cases of discrimination

If you need assistance because you feel discriminated against, please contact your national equality body.

Equinet – European network of equality bodies

The European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet) brings together national equality bodies to promote exchange of information and best practices between members and organises capacity-building events.

More information about Equinet

Recommendation on binding standards for equality bodies

In 2018, the Commission recommended a set of measures for Member States to improve equality bodies’ independence and effectiveness, in particular as regards their capacity to ensure that individuals and groups that are discriminated against can fully enjoy their rights.

Member States should ensure equality bodies have the necessary resources to fight discrimination on the following grounds: sex/gender, race, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. The recommendation furthermore stresses the importance to raise awareness on the role of equality bodies and on how citizens can access them to exercise their rights if they experience discrimination. 

Commission recommendation on standards for equality bodies

Legislative initiative on new binding standards for equality bodies

 The report on the application of the Racial Equality Directive and the Employment Equality Directive and its accompanying Staff Working Document on equality bodies have shown that most issues addressed by the recommendation remain unresolved.

Therefore, as announced in its work programme for 2022, the Commission is preparing a new legislative initiative that aims to strengthen equality bodies by setting minimum standards for their functioning.

The 2 proposals adopted on 7 December aim at ensuring a better application and enforcement of EU anti-discrimination rules. They lay down standards for equality bodies to ensure that people in all Member States enjoy a common minimum level of protection against discrimination. They cover the mandate, independence, resources, tasks and powers of equality bodies to (1) engage in the prevention of discrimination and awareness raising activities (2) deal with cases of discrimination/assist victims.

Proposal for a directive8 December 2022
Proposal for a Council Directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services

Proposal for a Council Directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in the field of employment and occupation between persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment between women and men in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services, and deleting Article 13 of Directive 2000/43/EC and Article 12 of Directive 2004/113/EC

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Proposal for a directive8 December 2022
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation, and deleting Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC and Article 11 of Directive 2010/41/EU

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Contact

JUST-EQUALITY-BODIESatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JUST-EQUALITY-BODIES[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Documents

7 DECEMBER 2022
Factsheet - Commission proposes to strengthen equality bodies
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