Equality

Equality, non-discrimination and racism

Equality is a core value of the EU. You have the right to fair treatment regardless of who you are, what you believe, or how you chose to live.

We carry out research and share expertise to help fight discrimination, inequality and racism in all its forms.

Highlights

  • Data explorer
    FRA’s 2024 survey on Roma and Travellers in Albania, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Spain collected information from 10,126 respondents living in private households who self-identify as Roma or Traveller, are 16 or older and have lived in the survey countries for at least the 12 months before the survey.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    25
    November
    2024
    This report presents key results of the EU gender-based violence survey based on data from all 27 Member States. The report focuses on the overall prevalence of physical violence or threats and/or sexual violence by any perpetrator, violence perpetrated by women’s intimate partners and by other people (non-partners) and women’s experiences of sexual harassment at work.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    25
    October
    2024
    Racism towards Muslims is increasing in countries across the EU. Muslims face racial discrimination and racist harassment because of their religion, skin colour or ethnic background. This report shows a sharp rise since the last survey in 2016.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    11
    July
    2024
    Antisemitism is still a reality for many Jewish people in the EU today. Faced with prejudice and hostility, most feel unable to live openly Jewish lives. This report presents the results of FRA’s third EU survey of Jewish people’s experiences and perceptions of antisemitism. The survey took place before the Hamas attacks in October 2023 and the war in Gaza; however, it includes evidence from a consultation with national and European Jewish umbrella organisations since. It covers 13 EU Member States that together account for around 96 % of the EU’s Jewish population.
    Publications and data
    10
    April
    2024
    Racism in the police can include discriminatory racial profiling practices through to excessive use of force. Incidents like these highlight deeper systemic issues that need addressing. Many in society are affected by racism in policing, not only the individuals or communities targeted. Lack of trust in policing can fuel social exclusion and damages the foundations of a fair and equal society, however promising practices are developing to address these issues. This is the first EU-wide report on racism in policing. FRA’s findings identify gaps in regulatory frameworks and propose concrete steps for action.
    FRA in close cooperation with the European Commission and the Academic Network of European Disability Experts (ANED), developed 28 human rights indicators to assess the political participation of persons with disabilities in the EU.
    2
    February
    2024
    This technical report provides all the relevant technical information on the design, implementation and finalisation of the survey on immigrants and descendants of immigrants. Details of the data collection process also contribute to the iterative improvement of survey methodologies, especially when it comes to surveying populations and groups that are considered ‘hard-to-reach’ or difficult to survey.
    31
    January
    2024
    Children’s rights exist to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every child. Improved child protection systems ensure that these rights are met. In recent years, the EU has taken significant steps to improve child protection systems. This mapping of child protection systems gives an overview of the state of such systems at national level and developments since 2015. It promotes the improvement of integrated child protection systems. It is an update of FRA’s mapping of child protection systems in 2015, based on data collected in 2023 in the 27 EU Member States. By publishing this, FRA aims to support securing the sustainable well-being, safety and rights of all children living in the EU.
    29
    November
    2023
    Online hate speech is a growing problem in today’s digitalised societies. Women, Black people, Jews and Roma are often targets of online hate speech. Online hate proliferates where human content moderators miss offensive content. Also, algorithms are prone to errors. They may multiply errors over time and may even end up promoting online hate. This report presents the challenges in identifying and detecting online hate. Hate of any kind should not be tolerated, regardless of whether it is online or offline. The report discusses the implications for fundamental rights to support creating a rights-compliant digital environment.
    7
    November
    2023
    Antisemitic incidents and hate crimes violate fundamental rights. This report provides an overview of antisemitic incidents in 2022. It reveals persistent gaps in the recording of antisemitism across Europe that impedes efforts to effectively counter hatred towards Jews. It covers antisemitic incidents reported in the 27 EU Member States in 2022 and includes available data of the same year from Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia and Serbia. As this is a yearly publication covering the period 01/01/2022–31/12/2022, it does not include antisemitic incidents reported in 2023. This is the 19th edition and is the only annual source of data of this nature for the EU.
    Findings from FRA’s Being Black in the EU report point to people of African descent experiencing widespread racism and discrimination in their daily lives.
    25
    October
    2023
    FRA's first Being Black in the EU report exposed widespread and entrenched racism against people of African descent in Europe. Now updated with new data, this report revisits the situation revealing persistent racial discrimination, harassment and violence. Overall, experiences of racial discrimination increased in the EU countries since 2016, reaching as high as 77%. The lack of progress is alarming despite binding anti-discrimination law in the EU since 2000 and significant EU policy developments since then.
    20
    October
    2023
    FRA’s strategic priorities and objectives are based on the agency’s role and mission as defined in its amended founding regulation. They build on FRA’s 2018–2022 strategy as well as how it performed, its experience and its vision. Their design takes into account future fundamental rights challenges facing Europe, the agency’s mandate, the broader operational context and the resources available.
    13
    September
    2023
    Europe’s ageing population is ever-increasing, and our societies are becoming more digitalised. Many public services are now available online, with many more services in the process of being digitalised. But the digitalisation of public services poses a risk of exclusion for older persons. In this new report, FRA explores the impact of digitalisation on the fundamental rights of older persons. The report maps the current legislation, policies and practices fostering digital inclusion. It provides an overview of the laws at the national level that provide for equal access to public services, both online and offline. The findings show how Member States safeguard older person’s rights to access services undergoing digitalisation. It outlines how Member States can support digital skills and ensure older people can fully participate in public life.

    8
    June
    2023
    Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine has resulted in massive internal and external population displacement. The European Union (EU) rapidly activated its Temporary Protection Directive for the first time since it was adopted in 2001. This entitled nearly 4 million people to legal residence and access to work, housing and legal assistance, education and healthcare.
    8
    June
    2023
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews major developments in the field in 2022, identifying both achievements and areas of concern. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    8
    June
    2023
    The year 2022 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews major developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered, and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    FRA’s 2021 survey on Roma in Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Spain collected information from 8,461 respondents living in private households who self-identify as Roma, are 16 or older and have lived in the survey countries for at least the 12 months before the survey.
    20
    March
    2023
    This guide helps independent national monitoring frameworks to fulfil their monitoring responsibility set out in Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It focuses on the use of indicators. It does not deal with aspects such as compliance with the Paris Principles or the efficiency of complaints mechanisms. Its objective is to support national monitoring frameworks in designing or improving indicators for assessing progress of CRPD implementation at national level.
    27
    February
    2023
    FRA’s 2021 survey on Roma was conducted in Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, as well as in North Macedonia and Serbia. It includes interviews with more than 8,400 Roma, collecting information on more than 20,000 individuals living in their households. This technical report provides a detailed overview of the survey methodology used by FRA when collecting the survey data.
    8
    December
    2022
    Artificial intelligence is everywhere and affects everyone – from deciding what content people see on their social media feeds to determining who will receive state benefits. AI technologies are typically based on algorithms that make predictions to support or even fully automate decision-making.
    11
    November
    2022
    Europe stands at a delicate moment in its history. It is a moment of existential significance for the wellbeing and sustainability of our societies. It is emerging from the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease, only to face a set of major overlapping challenges. These pose profound questions about the political, economic and societal future of the continent. To discuss elements of a human rights vision for the future and to identify opportunities for action, FRA brought together a group of sixty human rights leaders and experts with diverse backgrounds
    from across the continent. This report distils the meeting discussions, including analysis and ideas, and concludes with proposals for action. It does not represent the views either of individual participants or of FRA.
    3
    November
    2022
    Antisemitic incidents and hate crimes violate fundamental rights, especially the right to human dignity, the right to equality of treatment and the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This report provides an overview of available data on antisemitism as recorded by official and unofficial sources in the EU Member States and in Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. The data provided by the countries are supplemented with information from international organisations.
    25
    October
    2022
    02 November 2022
    This report presents findings from FRA’s 2021 survey on Roma in Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain, as well as in North Macedonia and Serbia. The survey includes interviews with more than 8,400 Roma, collecting information on more than 20,000 individuals living in their households. By focusing on Roma, the survey provides unique data and information that are not available from European general population surveys, which do not disaggregate on grounds of ethnic origin. The findings present a bleak but familiar picture of exclusion, deprivation, discrimination and racism.
    In this video message to the Equality2020 conference on 29 June, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty speaks about our shared struggle for a Europe that honours everybody in their diversity, in their equality and in their dignity.
    In this video message FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty speaks about LGBTI equality on the occasion of the Global Pride 2020:
    https://www.globalpride2020.org/
    Today, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights launches the second LGBTI survey, mapping the experience of what it is to be LGBTI in the EU.
    In 2019 the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) carried out the world’s biggest ever survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people’s life experiences. Almost 140,000 LGBTI people told us about their lives – in their own words.
    Based on the lessons learned from relocation
    experiences and on existing international and EU legal
    standards, FRA has developed a number of practical
    suggestions for the adjustment of relocation efforts to
    the protection needs of unaccompanied children. This
    guidance aims to be a practical tool for Member States
    that wish to engage in the relocation of unaccompanied
    children and in any future responsibility-sharing
    mechanisms, and to gain knowledge on how this can
    be done while respecting the child’s best interests.
    Michael O'Flaherty talks in his vlog about the human rights aspects in the context of the Coronavirus epidemic and introduces FRA's new report.
    In this edition of his vlog, Michael O'Flaherty talks about the human rights aspects in the context of the Corona virus epidemic.
    In the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty speaks about the publication of FRA's second LGBTI-survey on the 17th of March and how we can use the results to further battle discrimination.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Ten years after the UN’s Disability Convention entered into force, 2018 saw it continue
    to drive advances in disability rights across the EU.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Not all children benefit equally from efforts to guarantee child rights.
    Some groups face particular difficulties.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Anti-Gypsyism across the EU remains a persistent barrier to improving the social and
    economic situation of Roma today.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Ethnic minorities and migrants continue to face harassment and discrimination across the EU,
    despite longstanding EU laws against racism.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Efforts to advance equality moved ahead in some areas but remain stalled in others.
    In the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty talks about discrimination on the basis of age in the EU and calls for more respect for Human- and Fundamental Rights of older people.
    In the light of the events in New Zealand, Michael O'Flaherty talks about discrimination and hate crime against Muslims in the EU and makes 4 proposals on how to make Muslims feel more safe.
    Michael O'Flaherty focuses on the situation of the Jewish community living in the EU.
    Black people in the EU face unacceptable difficulties in getting a decent job because of their skin colour. Racist harassment also remains all too common.
    Black people in the EU face unacceptable difficulties in simply finding somewhere to live because of their skin colour.
    The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) launches its second EU Minorities and Discrimination Survey (EU-MIDIS II).
    FRA attended a meeting of the Working Group on the Implementation of the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life which took place from 17 to 18 June in Gdansk.
    FRA gave a presentation at the event ‘The Long Shadow of Antisemitism – Finland and Europe without Antisemitism’ on 12 June. FRA spoke about its work on antisemitism and its latest survey findings.
    FRA joined an online consultation for the new Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights. Seven EU agencies provided input to a review of the first Action Plan, its achievements and gaps in implementation, as well as proposals for future actions and possible contributions by the Agencies.
    On 14 June, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) will march alongside the Diplomats for Equality and the EU institutions in Vienna to celebrate love, equality and inclusion at the Vienna Pride Parade. This year’s march will also pause to honour the victims of the recent tragic school shooting in Graz, standing in solidarity with the affected communities.
    On 11 June, FRA hosted an online information session for public authorities. It presented key findings from its report ‘Towards Integrated Child Protection Systems - Challenges, promising practices and ways forward’.
    Threats to democracy, stark levels of violence against women and rights abuses at the EU’s borders - these are some of the key challenges detailed in FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2025. The report provides telling evidence of fundamental rights under threat across Europe. This must act as a wake-up call for Member States and EU Institutions to prevent the erosion of rights and stop democratic backsliding.
    FRA has submitted a contribution to the call for evidence of the European Commission for the European affordable housing plan. President von der Leyen announced in the Political Guidelines 2024-2029 that the new European Commission will put forward the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan.
    On 8 May in Rome, FRA attended a conference analysing the methodology used in European countries to collect data on the presence of Roma communities.
    FRA spoke about remembrance and democracy in a changing Europe during the first international event of the FREI – From Resistance to European Integration project.
    FRA and the European Institute for Gender Equality discussed the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment during an online Eurochambres workshop on 23 May. It was an opportunity to present the Eurostat, FRA, EIGE survey on gender-based violence to the business community.
    At the German Antidiscrimination Days 2025 from 13 to 14 May, FRA contributed to a panel on anti-Muslim racism, addressing its manifestations in education, employment and housing, as well as the experiences of queer Muslims.
    We – The Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and the diplomatic missions of the European Union to the International Organisations in Vienna, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Uruguay, as well as the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Investment Bank, UN-Globe and the Diplomatische Akademie Wien – Vienna School of International Studies – all welcome 17 May as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), as a celebration of sexual and gender diversity and inclusion around the world.
    On 9 and 10 April, FRA took part in the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy joint consultation and a meeting of the LGBTIQ Equality Subgroup in Brussels.
    FRA met members of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) Working Group on the UN’s Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD).
    FRA attended a meeting of Eurostat’s equality and non-discrimination statistics task force on 19 and 20 March in Luxembourg.
    FRA took part in a consultation on Luxembourg’s LGBTIQ Equality Action Plan and related policies.
    On 27 March, FRA took part in a meeting of the EU Disability Platform in Brussels. FRA presented the history, composition, tasks, operation and the work programme 2025-2026 of the EU Monitoring Framework of the UN’s Disability Convention.
    FRA took part in the second review of the EU’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD) to which the EU is a Party. FRA participated as a member of the EU level monitoring framework and supported the CRPD Committee with data and research on people with disabilities.
    FRA took part in a coordination meeting on combatting anti-Muslim hatred and racism, organised jointly by the European Commission and the Council of Europe. The event aimed at further facilitating dialogue among institutional stakeholders dedicated to combatting anti-Muslim hatred and racism.
    Child protection in the EU has improved over the years, but significant gaps remain, finds a report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Fragmented laws and policies, split responsibilities and limited resources are impediments to fully integrated child protection systems that safeguard children's rights.
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    The 15th European Forum on the Rights of the Child will take place from 23 to 24 June in Brussels. The theme is championing children’s rights: Building fair and resilient societies for the EU’s present and future.
    FRA, EIGE and EU-OSHA will meet EuroCommerce to discuss the use of the results from the EU’s gender-based violence survey concerning sexual harassment at work.
    FRA will speak at a webinar on civic space and civic participation, that will kick off European Pro Bono Week 2025, a Europe-wide celebration of the work of pro bono lawyers who support civil society, advance access to justice, and promote the rule of law.
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    FRA will participate in the EU Roma Management Committee meeting organised by Fundacion Secretariado Gitano. FRA will provide an update on the recent Roma survey 2024.
    In the upcoming financial mechanism period of the EEA/Norway Grants, FRA will perform the role of International Partner Organisation on Roma inclusion in Slovakia.
    FRA will join a meeting of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers as a panellist at their first informal meeting dedicated to the topic of dismantling Gender Norms: A discussion on Harmful Gender Stereotypes.
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    From 2 to 4 June, policymakers, practitioners, academics and civil society meet at the World Congress on Justice with Children 2025 in Madrid. The focus will be on advancing child-centred justice, preventing and responding to violence affecting children in child justice systems.
    FRA will take part in the European IDAHOT+ Forum. The Forum’s theme will be advancing Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIGESC) Equality and Inclusion in a Transforming Europe.
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    FRA will take part virtually in a meeting of the Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training from 20 to 21 May.
    On 30 April, FRA will contribute to a CEPOL webinar on fighting antisemitism online and offline. The webinar aims at improving law enforcement actions against violence and discrimination against Jews.
    On 29 April, FRA will host a webinar for interested organisations within the Agency’s Fundamental Rights Platform. The webinar will explore the vital role civil society organisations play in driving more integrated child protection systems.
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    FRA will join a consultation that will prepare for the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy post-2025. This will include a discussion on the new mandate of the LGBTIQ Equality Subgroup and on the role of Member States in implementing the strategy through national action plans and relations with the European Commission.
    On 3 April, FRA will speak during the mid-term review conference of the Council of Europe’s child rights strategy (2022-2027). The event in Strasbourg looks towards a child justice system which guarantees the respect and the effective implementation of children’s rights.
    FRA will contribute to the Luxembourg National Dialogue and consultation about the forthcoming action plan to promote LGBTIQ Equality.
    On 26 March, FRA will host an online stakeholders’ consultation on the Roma Survey 2024. There will be breakout discussions in national languages.
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    FRA will join the annual meeting of the Infra4NextGen Consortium Meeting as member of its stakeholder board.
    FRA will join the regular meeting of the National Roma Contact Points. The European Commission-organised meeting takes place in Brussels on 20 March.
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    FRA will take part in a CRPD Committee review meeting from 10 to 12 March in Geneva of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). FRA is a member of the EU’s CRPD Monitoring Framework.
    FRA and EIGE will give a presentation on the EU Gender-Based Violence survey results to the Luxembourg Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity. The coordination committee that deals with measures to combat violence against women and domestic violence will also attend.
    Members of the Roma survey Technical Working Group for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia as well as survey implementing agencies will meet online on 5 March. . The members are the UN Development Programme, the World Bank and FRA.