In order to be independent and effective as valuable catalysts for more equal societies, Equinet and national equality bodies call for European standards on the independence, effectiveness, functions and powers of equality bodies.

The Offices of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission organised an International Conference in Belfast on 26-27 May which focused on sharing the features and benefits of a Human Rights based approach with a bespoke staff manual and on-line tools.

The ECRI Annual Report was launched on the day of the Seminar of the Council of Europe’s Anti-Racism Commission (ECRI) for national independent authorities combating racism and intolerance. Meeting in Strasbourg on 26-27 May, the focus is on “The national Specialised Bodies’ role in advising legislative and executive authorities and other stakeholders”.

On 19 April, Equinet Chair Evelyn Collins (Equality Commission for Northern Ireland) participated in a conference entitled ‘Getting the Balance Right III’, designed to openly discuss concerns around unfair discrimination with respect to insurance in the EU.

Since the beginning of the year, Equinet Chair Evelyn Collins (Equality Commission for Northern Ireland), together with members of the Equinet Secretariat, has met with a number of European policy makers in order to highlight the work of Equinet planned for 2016, to communicate the learning from the work of equality bodies on different topics and shed light on their particular relevance to specific policies and activities being planned or pursued at European level.

On 20th April, Equinet and the Equality and Human Rights Commission co-organised a roundtable event at the European Parliament in Brussels. The event was hosted by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). It addressed the issues of work-life balance, pregnancy and parenthood related discrimination at national and EU levels. It gathered Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representatives of national equality bodies and other stakeholders.

Equinet is profoundly shocked by the cowardly and undiscriminating attacks that hit Brussels this week. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) issued guidelines to all 47 member States of the Council of Europe on how to prevent hate speech, support those targeted by it, and deal with its consequences.

Every year, the UNITED for intercultural action (European Network against nationalism, racism, fascism, in support of migrants and refugees) runs the European Action Week against Racism. This year, the campaign started on 12th March and finished on 21st March, on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Considering the proliferation of racism against migrants and refugees at the moment, Equinet decided to join the campaign and highlight initiatives carried out by its members to fight racism across Europe. As of 14 March, Equinet issued one article per day presenting some of its members’ work on anti-discrimination.

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