{"id":34608,"date":"2024-07-11T11:28:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T08:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adcmemorial.org\/?p=34608"},"modified":"2024-07-12T12:07:56","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T09:07:56","slug":"joint-statement-calling-on-incoming-eu-leadership-to-prioritise-equality-and-non-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adcmemorial.org\/en\/news\/joint-statement-calling-on-incoming-eu-leadership-to-prioritise-equality-and-non-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"Paving the Way for an Equality-Centred Policy Cycle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels, 11 July 2024<\/em><\/p>\n

The European Union was founded on the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Yet too many people continue to face discrimination and inequality across the Union, including intersectional and multiple forms of discrimination in all aspects of their lives1<\/a><\/sup>Throughout the text, \u201cequality and non-discrimination\u201d is to be understood as encompassing equality and non-discrimination in the enjoyment of the full range of human rights, including all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.<\/span>. In the current climate, it is now imperative that the EU institutions strengthen their resolve to take meaningful and urgent action to address this reality.<\/p>\n

As European Union leaders decide on their priorities for the 2024-2029 cycle, we call on them to ensure that equality and non-discrimination are included as central priorities in the EU work programme for the next five years. Only by centring equality and protection from discrimination in this way can the EU truly respond to the key concerns of people living in the Union.<\/p>\n

The equality and non-discrimination agenda was afforded increased visibility and action during the last five years as a result of the ambitious \u201cUnion of Equality\u201d agenda and the appointment of the first Commissioner for Equality. This led to unprecedented progress in efforts to advance equality and non-discrimination across EU policy making. Progress included the adoption of important initiatives such as the Directive on violence against women, inaugural Gender Equality and LGBTIQ Equality Strategies, an Anti-Racism Action Plan, a Green Paper on Ageing, an Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion, a Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU, as well as the renewal of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the EU Roma strategic framework.<\/p>\n

At this critical juncture, it is vital that the EU continue to prioritize efforts to guarantee the founding values of equality and non-discrimination, to advance the entire package which comprises the Union of Equality, and to ensure an intersectional approach to this agenda. Failure to do so would seriously jeopardise progress in this area and mark a very dangerous step backward.<\/p>\n

To this end we call on EU leadership to take the following steps:<\/p>\n