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

  • Report / Paper / Summary
    3
    March
    2026
    Violence against women remains widespread in the European Union (EU). This joint report by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) presents detailed findings from the EU gender-based violence survey. It offers in-depth analysis of the scale, nature and drivers of violence and exposes the structural gender inequality. Building on the 2024 publication, EU gender-based violence survey - Key results, and following up on FRA’s 2014 report, Violence against women: an EU-wide survey, this report tracks trends over the last decade across the EU. Eurostat, FRA, and EIGE jointly conducted the survey. It is based on over 100,000 interviews covering all 27 EU Member States.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    27
    January
    2026
    This report looks at antisemitism in the EU, focusing on what can be done to address gaps in recording and inconsistencies in data collection. It highlights existing tools and guidance for Member States to improve their recording systems. The analysis is based on official administrative data and information from publicly available sources across EU Member States, as well as Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Detailed country overviews are available for all countries covered. Antisemitism has been monitored by FRA since 2004. This report builds on the 2024 publication, ‘Jewish People’s Experiences and Perceptions of Antisemitism’.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    27
    November
    2025
    This report looks at the breadth and depth of violence and neglect faced by people with disabilities living in institutions. It highlights the shortcomings by EU Member States in preventing violence and protecting those who are at a higher risk of experiencing it, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Based on research across all EU Member States and FRA observer candidate countries, the report calls for better protection, stronger prevention of violence, and clear accountability. It urges the EU and its Member States to implement their obligations around equality and fundamental rights.
  • 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.
    Publications and data
    The results from the EU gender-based violence survey represent women aged 18 to 74 from across the EU. It covers experiences of physical, sexual and psychological violence, including domestic and non-partner violence. It also reports on sexual harassment at work.
    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.
    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.
    The third iteration of the EU LGBTIQ Survey of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), was conducted in 2023. It presents the experiences of LGBTIQ people across the EU 27 Member States, and the candidate countries Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, on the extent to which they enjoy fundamental rights. It provides policymakers with a solid empirical basis for evidence-based policies to ensure respect and protection for and fulfilment of the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ people. This interactive data explorer shows data from the survey for over 150 questions and contains multiple options for filtering, exporting and sharing the data.
    5
    June
    2024
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2024 analyses the year’s developments in fundamental rights. It focuses on the most pressing fundamental rights concerns facing Europe in 2023: the cost-of-living crisis, rights concerns at the EU’s external borders and migration, and threats to democracy. Re-structured, this year’s new approach is a shorter and sharper analysis. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a summary of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    5
    June
    2024
    The year 2023 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews 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. In so doing, it provides a compact but informative overview of the main fundamental rights challenges confronting the EU and its Member States.
    29
    May
    2024
    Ahead of the EU elections, this report explores the political participation of people with disabilities. Although some Member States removed restrictions on the right to vote and to stand for elections, barriers still exist. This report is an update of new developments following FRA’s last report published in 2014. It sets out ways forward to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunities, in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
    14
    May
    2024
    FRA’s third LGBTIQ survey shows that people still experience hate-motivated violence and discrimination. Trans and intersex people face even greater victimisation. Yet, signs of progress show that the EU’s and Member States’ efforts can positively affect people’s lives. More LGBTIQ people are open about their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.
    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.
    Although many steps have been taken in recent years to change LGBTI people’s lives for the better in the EU, there is still a long way to go, notes FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty in this video message to Athens Pride 2020.
    In his latest vlog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty speaks about the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Roma community. Roma children are in danger of losing almost a whole year of schooling. It’s like losing a generation. It’s robbing children of the one place where they can have hope and dream the same dreams of every other child.
    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.
    On 10 November, FRA took part in a workshop on the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (2026–2030) in Brussels. The European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs organised the meeting.
    FRA joined the final meeting of the Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training in Brussels from 21 to 22 October. FRA contributed to discussions on teaching about the EU in schools and the challenges of doing so.
    FRA contributed to the exchange of views at the meeting of the Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens' Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP) on combating racism, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred.
    FRA’s Director Sirpa Rautio took part in a conference on the Genocide of Roma and Sinti. She was part of the panel on 'Genocide of Roma and Sinti: Distortion and Discrimination'. She highlighted how findings from the FRA Roma Survey 2024 can guide policy under the EU Roma Strategic Framework.
    FRA and the European Court of Human Rights have produced the latest in a series of joint thematic factsheets. This factsheet focuses on reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities within the context of EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights.
    FRA attended the EU high-level group on combating hate speech and hate crime. The event focused on taking stock of achievements of the group. This includes the Working group on hate crime reporting, recording and data collection, which was facilitated by FRA.
    The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has released an updated version of its anti-Muslim hatred database. It includes information on recent incidents, legal measures, judicial trends and institutional responses. The database also tracks broader patterns anti-Muslim discrimination, hate crime and hate speech across Europe. The information collected spans from 2012 to 2024.
    FRA brought the perspective of a human rights-based approach to anti-poverty and social rights work during an expert roundtable on the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy. FRA shared its experience and contribution by data and research about the life experiences of rightsholders and the responses of duty bearers.
    FRA attended a meeting in Brussels from 6 to 7 October of the subgroup on the national implementation of the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025. It was the last meeting under the current anti-Racism action plan.
    FRA’s Director launched the report ‘Rights of Roma and Travellers in 13 European Countries – Perspectives from the Roma Survey 2024’ on 2 October in Brussels. During the opening political panel of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion, she presented key survey findings.
    The FRA Director spoke at the launch of ‘The Unheard 12 millions’. The book presents stories of individuals that the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights met during his visits to selected European countries.
    FRA took part in a seminar organised by Equinet on navigating AI’s impact on disability and age. It looked at challenges and opportunities.
    FRA together with the Albanian Ministry of Justice, held a two-day technical workshop aimed at supporting national efforts to improve the collection of disaggregated data and statistics on equality and hate crime.
    Roma and Travellers in the EU have more jobs and better housing than before, but poverty, discrimination and segregation remain widespread, shows a new survey from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). FRA warns that significant gaps remain between Roma inclusion targets set by the EU and the lived experiences of Roma and Traveller communities. EU countries are not likely to meet the targets by 2030.
    On 22-23 September, FRA participated in a conference of Equality Bodies from South-Eastern Europe. At the event, FRA spoke about the specific challenges that civil society organisations working on non-discrimination issues face in their work.
    On 16 September, FRA spoke at a seminar held by the Slovakian National Human Rights Institution.
    Being intersex in the EU means facing alarming levels of violence, harassment and discrimination in daily life, finds the latest report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Many intersex people have been forced to undergo ‘conversion’ practices or medical procedures without their informed consent, amounting to serious fundamental rights violations. FRA calls on EU countries to address the specific needs of intersex people to protect them from hate, discrimination and medical interventions without their free and fully informed consent.
    The OECD and Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency invited FRA to contribute to a technical expert workshop on estimating the economic cost of discrimination.
    FRA provided evidence-based input to support the development of the EU’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2026–2030. The contribution draws on the Agency’s survey data, research findings, and expert opinions.
    FRA shared input with the European Commission as it drafts its first EU affordable housing plan. FRA calls for a rights-based approach to housing.
    FRA will contribute to discussions on the EU anti-poverty strategy. Participants will discuss how international human rights standards and the Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights can inform the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.
    -
    FRA will attend the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth in Valletta from 9 to 10 October. The event brings together young people and policymakers to exchange ideas, strengthen democratic participation and shape European youth policy.
    On 29 September, FRA will hold a multilateral partner strategic cooperation workshop. This event will bring together a diverse group of actors who are active in the fields of memory, remembrance, and countering antisemitism.
    FRA will join the National Roma Contact Points meeting organised by the European Commission. FRA will present results of the Roma survey 2024.
    FRA Director Sirpa Rautio will give a speech at the launch of the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner's report on the human rights situation of Roma and Travellers.
    FRA Director Sirpa Rautio will join the high-level political panel at the 18th European Platform for Roma Inclusion meeting. She will announce FRA's publication with results from the Roma Survey 2024 that will be available on 2 October.
    FRA will present selected results of the EU gender-based violence survey at a conference on 17 September in Vienna. The University of Vienna and UN Office on Drugs and Crime are organising the event.
    -
    FRA will contribute to the first session of the UN Human Rights Office’s open-ended intergovernmental working group that will explore a draft optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It will look at the rights to early childhood education, free pre-primary and secondary education.
    -
    FRA will present the results of the EU’s gender-based violence survey during the European Society of Criminology’s annual conference.
    The EU’s Monitoring Framework to the UN’s Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities will discuss the national implementation of selected EU laws related to the rights of people with disabilities. National monitoring frameworks, as well as with ENNHRI and Equinet will join the meeting.
    FRA’s Head of Unit Equality, Roma and Social Rights, Siobhan MacInerney-Lankford, will exchange views with members European Parliament’s Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).
    -
    FRA will take part in the bi-annual Infra4NextGen stakeholder board meeting. Infra4NextGen is an EU-funded project which began on 1 March 2024 to bring together output from key social science research infrastructures to help inform the NextGenerationEU programme and European Union youth policies.
    -
    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.
    -
    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.
    -
    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.