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

Products
The COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on everyone. Governments take urgent measures to curb its spread to safeguard public health and provide medical care to those who need it. They are acting to defend the human rights of health and of life itself. Inevitably, these measures limit our human and fundamental rights to an extent rarely experienced in peacetime. It is important to ensure that such limitations are consistent with our legal safeguards and that their impact on particular groups is adequately taken account of.
On 13 November, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) hosted its first Fundamental Rights Dialogue - a virtual event that gave young people an opportunity to voice their fundamental rights concerns and discussed ways to solve them with FRA's Director Michael O'Flaherty.
This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the online event "Union of Equality: achievements and challenges ahead".
27
November
2020
Roma and Travellers living in western EU countries are less often in the limelight than those living in central, eastern and southern EU countries. While they represent a smaller proportion of the population in the west, they also face problems with social exclusion, marginalisation and discrimination. These country sheets present findings from the survey conducted by FRA in 2019 covering Roma and Travellers populations in Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The survey included interviews with almost 4,700 Roma and Travellers, collecting information on more than 8,200 individuals living in their households.
29
September
2020
Often living in substandard and overcrowded housing conditions, Roma and Travellers face an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. They are also disproportionately affected by measures taken to contain the virus. This FRA Bulletin takes a closer look at this reality in 15 EU Member States, focusing on education; employment; poverty; healthcare; housing; and anti-Gypsyism. It also outlines civil society efforts to tackle the diverse challenges triggered by the Coronavirus pandemic.
23
September
2020
This report presents findings from FRA’s 2019 survey on Roma and Travellers in Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The survey included interviews with almost 4,700 Roma and Travellers, collecting information on more than 8,200 individuals living in their households.
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.
10
September
2020
Antisemitism can be expressed in the form of verbal and physical attacks, threats, harassment, discrimination and unequal treatment, property damage and graffiti or other forms of speech or text, including on the internet. 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.
28
August
2020
FRA’s second survey on LGBTI people in the EU, North Macedonia and Serbia surveyed almost 140,000 participants. This technical report presents a detailed overview of the survey methodology used by FRA when collecting the survey data.
29
July
2020
As we enter the second half of 2020, the constraints on our daily lives brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic have become a firm reality. New local lockdowns and the reintroduction of restrictive measures prompted by fresh outbreaks of the virus are a stark reminder that COVID-19 continues to shape our lives – and our enjoyment of fundamental rights – in profound ways. There is compelling evidence of how the pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges in our societies. This FRA Bulletin outlines some of the measures EU Member States adopted to safely reopen their societies and economies while continuing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It highlights the impact these measures may have on civil, political and socioeconomic rights.
30
June
2020
The Coronavirus pandemic continues to interrupt everyday life in the EU in unprecedented ways. But the way it affects our societies is shifting. As governments gradually lift some of the measures put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, new fundamental rights concerns arise: how to ensure that the rights to life and health are upheld as daily life transitions to a ‘new normal’. This Bulletin looks at declarations of states of emergency, or equivalent, and how they came under scrutiny. It considers
the impact on fundamental rights in important areas of daily life, and includes a thematic focus on the pandemic's impact on older people.
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/
11
June
2020
Now available in Macedonian and Serbian
13 November 2020
The year 2019 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2020 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. In so doing, it provides a compact but informative overview of the main fundamental rights challenges confronting the EU and its Member States.
11
June
2020
FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2020 reviews major developments in the field in 2019, 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. This year’s focus chapter explores how to unlock the full potential of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
28
May
2020
The Coronavirus pandemic continues to interrupt everyday life in the EU in unprecedented ways. But the way it affects our societies is shifting. As governments gradually lift some of the measures put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, new fundamental rights concerns arise: how to ensure that the rights to life and health are upheld as daily life transitions to a ‘new normal’. This Bulletin looks at declarations of states of emergency, or equivalent, and how they came under scrutiny. It considers the impact on fundamental rights in important areas of daily life, and includes a thematic focus on the processing of users’ data to help contain COVID-19, particularly by contact-tracing apps. It covers the period 21 March – 30 April 2020.
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.
A total of 139,799 persons aged 15 years or older who describe themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or intersex (LGBTI) completed the online EU-LGBTI II Survey in all EU Member States and the candidate countries of North Macedonia and Serbia.
14
May
2020
This report presents select findings from FRA’s 2019 survey on LGBTI people in the EU and North Macedonia and Serbia. With almost 140,000 participants, it is the largest survey of its kind. It follows the agency’s first survey on LGBT people in the EU, conducted in 2012. The new survey results show little progress over the past seven years.
The Agency, in close cooperation with the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council, held a high-level symposium where the fundamental rights issues that are currently high on the EU’s political agenda were discussed.
Miltos Pavlou, Senior Programme Manager at the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, talks about the participation of migrants and their descendants in the EU.
The Agency’s Director, Michael O’Flaherty, took part in a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on 9 February.
This video message was produced for a holocaust education training for public officials.
Children should always be supported by a professional support person when they are involved in judicial proceedings, such as being at court. This could be, for example, a social worker or a legal counsellor.
Children should always be supported by a professional support person when they are involved in judicial proceedings, such as being at court. This could be, for example, a social worker or a legal counsellor.
During judicial proceedings, such as being at court, children should always be told what is going on. The information should be presented in a child-friendly and understandable way.
Children need to be heard and be involved in all issues that concern them. This includes the justice system.
This video was shown in the beginning of the high-level conference “Tackling sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination: next steps in EU and Member State policy making”.
On 1 December, FRA presented the results of the Roma survey 2021 to the members of the Czech government council for Roma minority affairs.
On 25 November, the European Commission’s child rights coordinator hosted an Interservice Group meeting to discuss the implementation of the EU Strategy on Child Rights (2021-2024).
FRA took part in the online AGE Annual Conference 2022 on 18 November.
On 17 November, FRA joined the first European Employment and Social Rights Forum.
On 16 November, FRA joined the conference of German commissioners against antisemitism and for the promotion of Jewish life.
FRA participated at the first Civil Society Forum on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.
FRA presented the results of its Roma survey 2021 to participants of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion. This is a regular event since 2009.
FRA presented the main findings of its latest Roma survey at a hearing of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).
Disinformation and hate against Jews flourished on the internet throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Yet, recording of antisemitic incidents remains poor across Europe. Each country collects data differently and some do not collect data at all. This hampers efforts to effectively tackle antisemitism, shows the latest annual overview of antisemitic incidents from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
Roma across Europe continue to experience widespread deprivation. Six years on since the last survey from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Roma families still live in shocking conditions, and their educational and job prospects are poor. This new FRA report identifies improvements and gaps in Roma inclusion to guide national efforts for Roma equality, inclusion and participation.
FRA presented the Swedish results of the Roma and Travellers survey in Stockholm on 14 October.
FRA has extracted youth data from its extensive body of research to guide campaigns supporting the rights of young people.
FRA presented its Being Black in the EU report findings at the Discriminations ethno-raciales au Luxembourg: perceptions de la population conference on 17 October in Luxembourg.
FRA hosted a delegation from the Gender Alliance for Development Center (GADC) on 20 October.
FRA met with representatives of the International Association of Universities of the Third Age on 11 October at the Agency.
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) held a national launch of FRA’s 2020 Roma and Travellers report in Stockholm on 14 October.
FRA took part in meetings of the EU Subgroup on Equality Data, facilitated by the Agency.
On 28 September, FRA took part in a panel discussion at the Health Forum Gastein on controlling a pandemic by controlling people?
The European Society of Criminology held its annual conference in Malaga from 21 to 24 September.
On 20 September, FRA attended a conference on progress in implementing the EEA and Norway Grants 2014 - 2021 in Czechia.
The Austrian Vida inclusion conference will take place on the 31 May in Vienna.
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On 18 and 19 May, FRA’s Director and staff will take part in the European conference on antisemitism.
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The National Contact Point for EEA/Norway Grants in Czechia and the Financial Mechanism Office of EEA/Norway Grants will bring together all actors engaged in implementing the Roma inclusion and empowerment programme under the Norway Grants 2014-2021 programme.
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FRA will take part in a working group to update the HELP course on child-friendly justice and child rights.
FRA will take part in a meeting of the European Commission’s Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training.
On 13 April, FRA will address the Forum on the present and future of citizenship and human rights education in Europe.
FRA will take part in the Council of Europe’s high-level conference ‘Beyond the horizon: a new era for the rights of the child’, on 7 April in Rome.
On 29 March, FRA will take part in an online working meeting on age equality.
On 22 March, FRA will give an overview of the EU's goals and measures in the fight against racism and discrimination. It will also present the Agency’s work.
FRA will speak on a panel during the final conference of the Enhancing Stakeholder Awareness and Resources for Hate Crime Victim Support (EStAR) project.
FRA will take part in the European Anti-Racism Summit on 21 March.
On 10 March, FRA, in cooperation with the National Roma Contact Points will present preliminary results from its FRA’s Roma survey 2020.
On 7 March, FRA’s Director will take part in a virtual round table discussion on mobilising law enforcement services against domestic violence.
FRA’s Director will take part in a French EU Presidency conference on improving accessibility and access to rights, implementing the 2021-2030 EU Strategy.
On 25 February, FRA will speak at the Zero Project International Conference 2022.
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On 23-24 February, FRA will contribute at the Council of Europe seminar on “The role of Equality Bodies and National Human Rights Institutions in advancing Roma women’s access to justice”.
FRA will take part in the third meeting of the European Commission’s Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training.
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FRA will take part in a WHO expert meeting on psychological intimate partner violence.
On 1 February, European experts from the European Commission, academia and civil society organisations meet to discuss ways of improving criminal proceedings for children who are in conflict with the law.
The French Presidency of the EU invited FRA to the informal meeting of Justice Ministers in Lillle.