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’.
  • 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
    If we are serious about protecting fundamental rights, we need to start listening to young people and what they have to tell us. This message came through very strongly at the Fundamental Rights Forum 2021. As we kick off the European Year of Youth 2022, let’s look at why listening to young people is key to protecting their rights.
    In this vlog, FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty points to the urgent need to work towards a fairer society and asks us all, as we go forward, to work less for people in the struggle for equality, but much more with them.
    Opinion / Position Paper
    6
    December
    2021
    FRA Opinion 1/21 illustrates the extent and nature of lived experiences of inequality and discrimination across the EU. It does so with reference to the grounds of discrimination and areas of life covered by the racial and employment equality directives, as well as by the proposed Equal Treatment Directive. It was issued on 30 April 2021. This summary presents the main recommendations (‘Key findings and opinions’) outlined in FRA Opinion 1/21.
    9
    November
    2021
    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 as well as Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. The data provided by the countries are supplemented with information from international organisations.
    7
    July
    2021
    Italian version now available
    12 September 2022
    This report examines why victims do not report bias-motivated incidents and the barriers that they face when reporting incidents through national crime reporting systems. By mapping existing practices that have a bearing on the victim’s experiences when reporting bias-motivated violence and harassment, it aims to provide evidence to support national efforts to encourage and facilitate reporting – and ultimately assist Member States in delivering on their duties with regard to combating hate crime.
    On 23 February 2021, FRA’s Director, Michael O’Flaherty, listened to fundamental rights concerns and discussed ways to solve them. The second Fundamental Rights Dialogue invited young people to participate in shaping our societies, placing human rights centre stage.
    Drawing on the ‘Encouraging hate crime reporting: the role of law enforcement and other authorities' report, in this infographic FRA outlines why reporting is so important and what must change to encourage hate crime reporting.
    On 16 June, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights publishes the seventh of its bulletins on the fundamental rights impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his vlog FRA Director draws attention to fundamental rights issues related to the roll out of the vaccines in the EU 27 Member States.
    Periodic updates / Series
    16
    June
    2021
    This Coronavirus Bulletin focuses on equitable access to vaccines. It outlines the situation in the 27 EU Member States from 1 March to 30 April 2021. The bulletin looks at two main areas: planning and prioritisation in deploying Covid-19 vaccinations and their rollout in the countries. It covers information and communication campaigns, as well as (pre)registration channels for and the administration of vaccinations.
    10
    June
    2021
    The year 2020 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2021 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.
    10
    June
    2021
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2021 reviews major developments in the field in 2020, 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 the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fundamental rights. The remaining chapters cover: the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; equality and non-discrimination; racism, xenophobia and related intolerance; Roma equality and inclusion; asylum, borders and migration; information society, privacy and data protection; rights of the child; access to justice; and the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
    10
    June
    2021
    This focus looks at COVID-19’s impact on fundamental rights. It underscores that a human rights-based approach to tackling the pandemic requires balanced measures that are based on law, necessary, temporary and proportional. It also requires addressing the pandemic’s socio-economic impact, protecting the vulnerable and fighting racism.
    There are many reasons for the police to stop someone. But prejudice should not be one of them. Find out what FRA is doing to end discriminatory police stops.
    Opinion / Position Paper
    30
    April
    2021
    This opinion illustrates the extent and nature of lived experiences of inequality and discrimination across the EU. It does so with reference to the grounds of discrimination and areas of life covered by the racial and employment equality directives, as well as in relation to the grounds and areas covered by the proposed Equal Treatment Directive.
    There are many reasons why adults may find themselves in a situation of vulnerability - because of their age, health or disability. Vulnerable people are at greater risk of unfair treatment, exploitation or abuse. And cross-border settings can lead to additional obstacles. It's time to address these challenges and identify the needs of vulnerable adults so everyone can enjoy their fundamental rights.
    30
    March
    2021
    FRA’s 2019 survey on Roma and Travellers in Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom interviewed almost 4 700 Roma and Travellers, collecting information on more than 8 200 individuals living in their households.
    This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the online event '2021 Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism' which took place on 16 March 2021. The event was hosted by the city of Frankfurt am Main in partnership with the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM).
    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".
    The European Green Deal is the EU’s principal strategy to tackle climate change: a green transition that strives to leave no one behind. A new paper from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reveals a fragmented approach to addressing the impact of climate change on fundamental rights. The paper argues that a systematic application of fundamental rights standards and obligations in EU climate policy could more effectively advance a just and inclusive transition.
    On 2 December, the European Parliament’s disability rights week began in Brussels. FRA took part in two hearings.
    FRA supported a meeting of the Czech government Council for Roma minority affairs and its discussions on ethnic data collection.
    On 2 December, FRA presented the results of the EU survey on gender-based violence at the meeting of the Council of the European Union’s Fundamental Rights working party (FREMP).
    FRA held an online information session for public authorities on the findings of the Eurostat-FRA-EIGE EU survey on gender-based violence. The presentation of the key results included an outline of FRA’s engagement with stakeholders at the EU and national level in the framework of the survey.
    FRA presented the indicators on political participation of people with disabilities at the Disability Week at the European Parliament on 4 December. It focused on the most recent data on political participation of people with intellectual disabilities.
    On 26 September, FRA took part in the Roundtable and Steering Committee meeting of the joint child-friendly justice project. This is an initiative that started through partnership meetings between the Council of Europe, the European Commission and FRA to move towards more child-friendly justice systems.
    A third of women in the EU have experienced violence at home, at work or in public. Young women report having experienced higher levels of sexual harassment at work and other forms of violence than older women. Yet violence against women often remains invisible as only every fourth woman reports incidents to the authorities (the police, or social, health or support services). These are some of the findings of the EU survey on gender-based violence conducted from 2020 to 2024 by Eurostat (the statistical office of the EU), the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).
    FRA attended two meetings in Brussels in the framework of a country visit to Belgium of the EU Subgroup on Equality Data. The Belgian Equal Opportunities Division hosted and chaired the country visit to Belgium on 4. November.
    FRA took part in a series of meetings in Brussels on antiracism and equality from 16 to 18 October.
    FRA took part in the EU Energy Poverty Advisory Hub international conference on the theme of 'Turning the tide: paving the way for energy poverty alleviation' on 15-16 October 2024.
    One in two Muslims in the EU face racism and discrimination in their daily life – a sharp rise since 2016. Muslim women, men and children are targeted not just because of their religion, but also because of their skin colour and ethnic or immigrant background. Young Muslims born in the EU and women wearing religious clothing are especially affected. These are some of the findings of the latest report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
    Climate experts and child rights experts across Europe, NGOs, practitioners, academics, and children gathered for a meeting of European the Network of Child-friendly Justice. They discussed the diverse situations and challenges children encounter due to the impact of climate change while seeking access to justice and legal remedies.
    FRA presented its work during two international antiracism conferences in Germany.
    FRA contributed to a two-day expert meeting on the implementation of EU equality law. FRA was there alongside the European Gender Equality Institute (EIGE) and the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET), as an observer.
    FRA took part in an event preceding the regular Conference of Parties on climate change that will later take place in Baku on 11-22 November. It brought together businesses and representatives of international organisations.
    FRA presented its work on antiracism and anti-Muslim hatred to the Council of the EU’s Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens' Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP).
    On 20 September, FRA attended the closing Cooperation Committee meeting under the EEA and Norway Grants in Czechia’s Programme on Human Rights, Roma Inclusion, and Domestic and Gender-based Violence. The committee discussing the final stage of the programme’s implementation.
    FRA joined a panel on effective prosecution of antisemitic incidents and the role of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. It formed part of a meeting of the European Commission Working Group on antisemitism.
    FRA’s Director delivered a keynote speech in the opening panel of the 28th Annual Conference of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children. The focus was on protecting and promoting the rights of children in alternative care.
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    FRA will join the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub conference organised by the European Commission.
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    FRA will speak about institutional and structural racism during the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) annual seminar with Equality Bodies.
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    FRA will speak at the European Social Network’s annual meeting in Bucharest, taking place from 30 September to 1 October. The seminar will focus on fostering effective coordination between universal and specialist services to ensure an integrated approach to child protection.
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    The General Conference of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR) will take place in Heidelberg from 23 to 25 September.
    The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU invited FRA to speak about the results from the Agency's third survey on discrimination and hate crime against Jews in the EU.
    FRA will present its work on the fundamental rights impact of the cost-of-living crisis in the EU during a meeting of the Social Rights Platform. The focus will be on the social rights of young people.
    FRA will take part in a meeting of the European Networks of NHRIs’ working group on economic, social and civil rights. The meeting takes place on 2 July in Vilnius.
    FRA’s Director will be a keynote speaker at the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting in Vienna on 24 June that will focus on tolerance, non-discrimination, and gender equality. The Maltese OSCE Chairpersonship and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will organise the meeting.
    FRA will present its work on the fundamental rights impact of the cost of living crisis in the EU during a meeting of the Social rights platform. The focus will be on the social rights of young people.
    On 24 June, FRA will welcome a group of students from the Central European University.
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    FRA will contribute to the Eurocities Working Group on Roma inclusion in Vantaa on 13 and 14 June. FRA will present key findings from its project on Local engagement for Roma Integration.
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    FRA will attend the 12th meeting of the EU High-Level group on combating hate speech and hate crime. The event is jointly organised with the Belgium Presidency of the Council of the EU.
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    FRA’s director will deliver a keynote speech on 6 May at a European Conference on Antisemitism. She will join a High-Level Panel on ‘Antisemitism as the new normal?’.
    On 6 May, FRA will present key findings from its new report on ‘Addressing Racism in Policing’.
    FRA will speak to the Council of the EU’s Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP) on 13 May in Brussels. The meeting will be dedicated to the end of the International Decade for People of African Descent.
    On 30 April, FRA will hold a webinar on Mapping Child Protection Systems in the EU – Update 2023. The webinar will take place from 14:00-15:30 pm CEST.
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    FRA will present its work on the LGBTIQ survey at the LGBTIQ Equality Subgroup meeting that runs from 19 to 20 March.
    On 20 March, FRA will hold an inception meeting with partners from its Franet research network for a new project on violence against people with disabilities in institutions.
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    Between 21 and 23 February, FRA will take part in train-the-trainer sessions in Romania on tackling hate crime. The event is aimed at prosecutors, law enforcement and other relevant professionals.
    FRA will present findings from its ‘Being Black in the EU - experiences of people of African descent’ report at an online event in Ireland. The event takes place on 15 February.