On 24 September 2002, the European Commission issued a report, entitled Specialised bodies to promote equality and/or combat discrimination [1]. The report looks at the range of national equality institutions which exist in Member States, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. It has been drawn up within the framework of the Community Action Programme to combat discrimination [2] (2001-6) (EU9912218F [3]).[1] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamri/2002/equality_bodies_en.html[2] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamri/prog/index_en.htm[3] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined-social-policies/new-anti-discrimination-directives-proposed-by-commission
In September 2002, the European Commission issued a report looking at specialised bodies in EU Member States which have been set up to promote equality and/or to combat discrimination.
On 24 September 2002, the European Commission issued a report, entitled Specialised bodies to promote equality and/or combat discrimination. The report looks at the range of national equality institutions which exist in Member States, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. It has been drawn up within the framework of the Community Action Programme to combat discrimination (2001-6) (EU9912218F).
The report lists all the relevant bodies in each Member State, looking at their structure, mandate and resources. It then goes on to examine their role in relation to the victims of discrimination. It looks at issues such as provision of assistance in resolving cases, legal advice and representation and whether the bodies have the power to act as quasi-judicial bodies which give formal rulings in discrimination cases.
Looking at the institutions’ role and functioning in the political process, the report makes a distinction between formal and informal roles. It recommends that institutions' role should be formalised in order for their expertise to be included in legislative initiatives and reviews.
The study also looks at issues such as dissemination of information, research and awareness building, making a number of key recommendations:
sufficient means should be made available to institutions so that they can survey the actual level of discrimination and identify any problems regarding equal treatment;
institutions should be encouraged to conduct long-term research and surveys in order to ensure that their research is not determined by factors such as news headlines;
training should be used as a means of changing discriminatory practices. Training should be adequately targeted and, where possible, be carried out on a multiple basis in order to ensure that resources are spent effectively; and
formalised 'networking' structures can be used to ensure the sharing of knowledge and capacity building between different equal treatment institutions.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2002), Commission publishes study on equality bodies, article.
