Non-discrimination

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In the words of Joni Mitchell, the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone, and this phrase has never rung truer than this year. A whole host of privileges, taken by many of us as...

Media reporting on COVID-19 set pace for discrimination

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, discussions on racism, especially anti-Asian racism, have been brought back into the media spotlight and agenda. However, anti-Asian hate continues to spread online.

German cabinet committee agrees to €1 billion package to combat racism

The German Cabinet Committee on Combatting Right-Wing Extremism and Racism agreed to 89 measures on Wednesday (25 November). This package, worth more than €1 billion, includes more aid for victims, changes to criminal law, and the move to replace the word ‘Rasse’ (race) in the German Basic Law. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Diversity in media sector: Still lots of room for improvement

Europe’s newsrooms are still predominantly white and middle-class, though societies are changing at a rapid speed. Experts are calling on the sector to change and enable journalists to reflect the society they are reporting about.

Investors or professionals: How most Hungarian media helped discrimination

Media watchdogs have been sounding the alarm over the shrinking space for media pluralism in Viktor Orbán's Hungary. EURACTIV looks into how discrimination of ethnic and social minorities has evolved in the country and how the development of its media landscape also played a role.

France’s ‘feminist diplomacy’: lots of talk, little action

The term 'feminist diplomacy' used by France since 2018 remains unclear, according to a report by the country's High Council on Gender Equality presented to the government on 18 November. EURACTIV France reports.

Media society and non-discrimination: Are we doing enough?

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You can also read the Special Report in Romanian. Racist harassment, violence, and discriminatory ethnic profiling are commonplace in Europe, which increases the importance of the role of the media in exposing discrimination based on ethnic origin. Over the years,...

Jourova: More homework remains to be done on diversity in media

The under-representation of people with a minority racial or ethnic background in the media, including in media newsrooms themselves, remains a problem that needs to be addressed, and the European Commission is ready to help with funding, Commission vice-president Věra Jourová told EURACTIV in a written interview.

EU states lead UN campaign against anti-Semitism

Twelve EU governments were among the leading signatories on Tuesday (17 November) to a new campaign aimed at combatting rising anti-Semitism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Terrorism and Muslim communities: Europe’s ‘right’ battle

In recent weeks, violent terrorist attacks have shocked France and Vienna, after cartoons of Prophet Mohammed were published by French satiric publication Charlie Hebdo to mark the start of the trial for the 2016 terrorist attacks in Paris.

LGBTQI strategy to protect rainbow families, extend EU crimes to homophobic speech

The European Commission has presented its first LGBTIQ Equality Strategy for the next five years, pledging to be “at the forefront of efforts to better protect” the community’s rights by aiming to tackle discrimination, ensuring safety, building inclusive societies and...

Women’s rights: We cannot go back a single day

Despite modest progress, the EU is still decades away from obtaining gender equality and the overall picture is still bleak, writes Helena Dalli.

Reporting about Roma: Empathy desirable, but right terminology mandatory

People’s mentality and their attitude towards Roma people depend on a vast historical and cultural context in Romania and they are difficult to change. But they need to be reshaped and myths should be either confirmed or busted, , with the help of the media.

US Christian right-wing groups financed anti-rights campaigns in Europe

US Christian rights groups linked to US President Donald Trump’s administration have spent millions pushing ultra-conservative anti-rights agendas in Europe, a new investigation by openDemocracy, an independent UK-based global media platform, revealed on Tuesday (27 October).

French McDonalds employees give ‘chilling’ testimonies of discrimination and harassment

Though Mcdonalds' French ad campaign continues to be 'Come as you are', 114 employee testimonials collected recently in France tell a different story. They include racism, sexism, harassment and even sexual violence. EURACTIV France reports.

Irish town cuts ties with ‘LGBT-free’ Polish twin in growing culture war

The Irish town of Fermoy has cut ties with its Polish twin Nowa Deba over a motion opposing "LGBT ideology", in the latest European bid to counter Poland's increasing homophobic stance.

German police study will focus on ‘daily work’ instead of structural racism

After public pressure and national debate, a study of German police forces is on the way. The Social Democrat's (SPD) proposal to specifically investigate racism within the German authorities will only be one of many topics, as the study will instead be focusing on the 'daily work' of officers. EURACTIV Germany reports.

French feminist: Women need to ‘take back’ their place and feel safe in the streets

Though violence against women exploded around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, as did economic and social inequalities, the number of femicides has been on the rise since 2019. In an interview with EURACTIV France, feminist activist Marguerite Stern spoke about the position of women in French society.

Police violence more problematic in France than in Germany, says police expert

Amnesty International has pointed to the "illegal use of force" by French police officers during demonstrations in a recent report. In an interview with EURACTIV France, sociologist Jérémie Gauthier discusses why this is a recurrent issue in France.

New EU strategy must ensure equality in workplace, stakeholders say

The European Commission has pledged to increase gender equality in workplaces across Europe. Stakeholders have now urged the EU to make sure the COVID-19 pandemic does not impact the progress on workplace equality.

Commission to encourage raising media awareness of racial discrimination

Racist harassment, violence, and discriminatory ethnic profiling are commonplace in Europe, which increases the importance of the role of the media in exposing discrimination based on ethnic origin.

Decolonising the curriculum: tackling systemic ‘life-threatening’ racism in medicine

Medical curriculums should be reformed if we want to eliminate systemic racial bias, according to students and teachers at the University of Bristol, who stressed that medical education should explore and reflect upon unconscious biases and how these may impact clinical judgement.

Non-Discrimination Terminology in the Media

Over the years, the European Union has put in place legislation to tackle discrimination, such as the Racial Equality Directive. While the Directive was adopted two decades ago, various problems still persist in the national implementation of European non-discrimination law....

Ambassadors to Poland call for ‘environment of tolerance’ for LGBT+ people

Fifty ambassadors to Poland have written an open letter calling on Warsaw to help forge "an environment of non-discrimination, tolerance and mutual acceptance" as international concerns grow over the treatment of LGBT+ people in the country.