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European Equality Law Network

European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination

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Thematic reports

 

Christa Tobler (September 2008)

Publication date: 5 September 2008. Topics

Christa Tobler (septembre 2008)

Publication date: 5 September 2008. Topics

Christa Tobler (September 2008)

Publication date: 5 September 2008. Topics

Nik de Boer, Susanne Burri, Hélène Masse-Dessen, Simone van der Post (August 2008)

Publication date: 25 August 2008. Topics

Kristin Henrard (June 2007)

Publication date: 5 June 2007. Topics

Kristin Henrard (juin 2007)

Publication date: 5 June 2007. Topics

Kristin Henrard (Juni 2007)

Publication date: 5 June 2007. Topics

Marc De Vos (June 2007)

Publication date: 4 June 2007. Topics

Marc De Vos (juin 2007)

Publication date: 4 June 2007. Topics

Marc De Vos (Juni 2007)

Publication date: 4 June 2007. Topics

Timo Makkonen (November 2006)

Publication date: 5 November 2006. Topics

Rikki Holtmaat (March 2006)

Publication date: 2 March 2006. Topics

Rikki Holtmaat (mars 2006)

Publication date: 2 March 2006. Topics

Rikki Holtmaat (März 2006)

Publication date: 2 March 2006. Topics

Christa Tobler (June 2005)

Publication date: 14 June 2005. Topics

Christa Tobler (Juni 2005)

Publication date: 14 June 2005. Topics

Comparative analyses

The comparative analyses provide a summary of the state of affairs of non-discrimination law in the 27 EU Member States and gender equality law in EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the United Kingdom. Until 2022, the comparative analyses of both strands covered the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the United Kingdom as well as the five Candidate Countries Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. The analyses give an overview of the key issues, include the latest and most important legal developments at the national level such as case law and legislative amendments, and illustrate and assess the evolution of non-discrimination and gender equality law.  

No documents found.

Law reviews

 

The European equality law review is produced by the European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination (EELN). The aim of the EELN is to provide the European Commission and the general public with independent information regarding gender equality and non-discrimination law and, more specifically, on the transposition and implementation of the EU equality and non-discrimination directives. While the European Equality Law Review has been published biannually under previous contracts with the European Commission, it is published once a year under the current contract. 

The current issue provides an overview of legal and policy developments across Europe and, as far as possible, reflects the state of affairs from 1 January to 30 June 2022. This issue opens with four in-depth articles. The first article by Laura Carlson from Stockholm University explores effective enforcement mechanisms and sanctions in the European Commission’s proposed directive to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equa value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms. The second article on intersectional discrimination, by Raphaële Xenidis from the University of Edinburgh, focuses on the engagement of the Court of Justice of the EU with the issue of intersectional discrimination in the context of the so-called ‘headscarf’ cases. The third article, by Margarita S. Ilieva and András Kádár, the national non-discrimination experts for Bulgaria and Hungary respectively, explores the regulation of victimisation in Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy and Poland, and identifies good practices as well as gaps and shortcomings in these jurisdictions. The final article, by Cathérine Van de Graaf from the University of Ghent, explores the legal frameworks and practice of mediation procedures in discrimination cases in Austria, Belgium, Ireland and Portugal.

To receive hard copies of the European equality law review and be added to our mailing list to automatically receive future issues, please visit our order page

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Publications

Law reviews

The European equality law review is produced by the European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination (EELN/the network). The aim of the EELN is, and has been since 2015, to provide the European Commission and the general public with independent information regarding gender equality and non-discrimination law and, more specifically, on the transposition and implementation of the EU equality and non-discrimination directives. From 2015 to 2022, the network produced two issues of the European equality law review each year. From 2023 onwards, the network will be producing one issue per year, providing an overview of one full year of legal and policy developments in European and national gender equality and non-discrimination law. The current issue reflects, as far as possible, the state of affairs from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Most recent publication:

European equality law review 2023

Cover image of European equality law review

Published:
February 2024

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More European equality law reviews

Thematic reports

This thematic report provides a comparative overview of how these legal instruments have been complied with in the 27 EU Member States, and aims to establish how and to what extent the legal framework and its practical application in the different Member States provide protection against antisemitism in three main areas: (i) non-discrimination; (i) hate crimes; and (iii) hate speech. It identifies gaps in the existing legal protections and/or their enforcement across the EU Member States and makes recommendations on mechanisms for the provision of effective protection against acts motivated by antisemitism.

Most recent publication:

The legal framework to combat antisemitism in the European Union

Cover image of The legal framework to combat antisemitism in the European Union

Published:
22 March 2024

András Kádár

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More thematic reports

Comparative analyses

Most recent publications:

A comparative analysis of non-discrimination law in Europe 2023

Cover image of A comparative analysis of non-discrimination law in Europe 2023

Published: January 2023

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A comparative analysis of gender equality law in Europe 2022

Cover image of A comparative analysis of gender equality law in Europe 2022

Published: January 2023

Download this publication

More comparative analyses

Links

European Commission, DG Justice and Consumers
Tackling discrimination: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/index_en.htm
Gender equality: https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality_en

European Court of Justice
http://curia.europa.eu

European Court of Human Rights
http://www.echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=home

European Committee of Social Rights
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/socialcharter/ecsr/ecsrdefault_EN.asp

Equinet - European network of equality bodies
If you consider that you have been a victim or a witness of an act of discrimination we would suggest that you contact the national equality body in your country of residence via the following link: https://equineteurope.org/members-map/ 

More information is available here: https://equineteurope.org/what-are-equality-bodies/european-directory-of-equality-bodies/

FRA - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
http://fra.europa.eu/en


 

About us

The European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination, established in December 2014, combines two previously existing networks: the European Network of Legal Experts in the Non-discrimination Field and the European Network of Legal Experts in the field of Gender Equality.

The gender equality network has a long history. It started in 1983, focussing on the implementation at national level of the series of directives that have been adopted since 1975 on equal treatment between women and men and on the cases on sex discrimination decided by the Court of Justice. With its experienced experts the network assisted the Commission in its task to monitor the correct implementation of the gender equality acquis communautaire. In 1983, only 6 Member States were participating in this network, in contrast to the 36 countries that are now included in the network.

The network of legal experts on non-discrimination was established in 2004 with the main aim to provide the Commission with independent advice on all the grounds of discrimination covered by Directive 2000/43/EC and Directive 2000/78/EC. The network was a follow-up to three separate networks, one of which dealt with racial or ethnic origin and religion or belief, one with disability and one with sexual orientation.

After a period of increasingly closer cooperation during the years 2012 - 2014 the gender equality and the non-discrimination networks merged into the current network covering all discrimination grounds in the EU Treaties.

The network ensures a regular overview of the state of affairs regarding the transposition of EU equality and non-discrimination law on a country by country basis in the annual country reports and comparative analyses, whereas more recent reporting can be found in the legal developments section of the website and the key developments section of the annual European Equality Law Review. Topical issues are addressed in articles in the Equality Law Review and thematic reports that are published on the website and presented and discussed during the annual legal seminar.

The overall operation of the network is governed by Human European Consultancy, the School of Law of Utrecht University and the Migration Policy Group.

General coordination - Human European Consultancy

Position Name Email
General Coordinator Jos Kösters
Project manager  Helena Schmetz

Coordination gender equality - Utrecht University

Position Name Email
Specialist coordinator gender equality Linda Senden
Senior coordinator for gender equality law Alexandra Timmer
Lead coordinator for gender equality law Franka van Hoof
Content coordinator for gender equality law Birte Böök

Coordination non-discrimination - Migration Policy Group

Position Name Email
Specialist coordinator non-discrimination law Isabelle Chopin
Content coordinator for non-discrimination law Catharina Germaine

Executive committee of senior experts

Position Name Email
Racial or ethnic origin Lilla Farkas
Age Elaine Dewhurst
Religion or belief Isabelle Rorive
Gender equality law Susanne Burri
Sexual orientation Peter Dunne
Disability Lisa Waddington
EU and human rights law Christopher McCrudden
Social security Frans Pennings
EU law and expertise on sex, gender identity and gender expression in relation to trans and intersex people Christa Tobler
Artificial intelligence and human rights, algorithmic discrimination, bias and data-driven inequality

Raphaële Xenidis

Equality bodies and enforcement Niall Crowley
Gender, trans and intersex equality rights Marjolein van den Brink
Violence against women Maria Andriani Kostopulou

 

Legal developments

A new ground of discrimination, discrimination of persons with disabilities in the workplace, social advantages on the grounds of age, disability, and social status

Broader employment opportunities and services for persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as abolition of the status of social enterprises

Publication date: 22 August 2022. Topics

Appointment of new Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination/Head of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency

Are gender-critical beliefs protected under the Equality Act 2010?

Analysis of different key issues in the implementation of Belgian anti-discrimination legislation during the year 2021, and description of UNIA's (Inter-federal Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism and Discrimination) action over the past year

Muslim women's right not to be discriminated against in the workplace during vocational training in combination with the protection of public health

A labour court in the city of Bilbao has ruled that the Administration’s failure to take measures to adapt the workplace of a teacher with a physical disability is indirect discrimination on grounds of disability

Publication date: 25 July 2022. Topics

Conformity of a by-law adopted by the City of Grenoble authorising women to wear a loose and long bathing garment in municipal swimming pools to accommodate religious demands, to the principle of neutrality of the public service and secularity

Are gender critical beliefs protected under the Equality Act 2010?

National study on the needs of LGBTI people and on discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sexual characteristics

Conciliation measures and promotion of gender equality for working mothers

Conversion therapies prohibited only against LGBTQ+ minors and persons under judicial support whereas still allowed against LGBTQ+ adults on the basis of prior explicit consent

Spain ratifies ILO Convention No 189 concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers

Paternity leave, parental leave for both employees and self-employed, time off for caregiver, smart working as a conciliation measure

Wage system based on age was seen as discriminatory – and the tribunal’s authority to award compensation for economic losses is clarified by all the heads of tribunal chambers

Publication date: 15 June 2022. Topics

Report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and men and consequences on gender equality

Ministry of Justice’s working group proposal to strengthen access to justice in the Non Discrimination Act published

When the burden of proof was transposed into Norwegian law, its content and application were not thoroughly assessed in the preparatory works. This has led to a systematic misinterpretation of it for decades

Annual report of the national equality body for 2021

Registration as a non-binary person

First baseline evaluation report on implementation of the Istanbul Convention submitted by the Government, along with shadow reports by several women NGOs

The application of constitutional reform on gender quotas in Parliament leading to a gender corrective mechanism

Publication date: 1 June 2022. Topics

Annual reports providing statistics on discrimination cases reported and findings of discrimination

An administrative fine of EUR 50 000 imposed by the National Council for Radio and Television to a TV channel for gender discrimination and stereotyping

Publication date: 4 May 2022. Topics

The Council of State found requirements for the grant of a right to parental leave for newly appointed schoolteachers to be in breach of Directive’s 2010/18/EU prohibition of length of service qualifications exceeding the one year limit

New provisions of the Penal Code on rape, sexual harassment, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of the prostitution of others

The High Court of Justice of Andalusia has found that the failure of a company to reduce the salary of a worker close to the age of retirement does not constitute discrimination on grounds of age

Publication date: 26 April 2022. Topics

Extension of the scope of protection against discrimination in the field of supply of and access to goods and services

The provision of the Law on Employment restricted older people from volunteering

Publication date: 20 April 2022. Topics

During the COVID-19 control process, a trans person’s statement of their gender identity should be accepted regardless of the fact that their documents have not been submitted in the process of legal recognition of gender identity

Publication date: 13 April 2022. Topics

Discrimination in the field of Employment against LGBT+ people who entered or had entered in a civil union

The Supreme Court has annulled the age limits imposed on non-commissioned officers who, by promotion, wish to join the officer ranks of the General Corps and the Marine Corps

Publication date: 13 April 2022. Topics

The County Court confirmed that age discrimination took place in a case of a sports referee in the first strategic litigation case in which the Advocate of the Principle of Equality represented a client

Publication date: 13 April 2022. Topics

Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work

Publication date: 6 April 2022. Topics

Home

Welcome!

In order to effectively promote equality and tackle discrimination in the European Union it is important to understand the effects of the EU's equal treatment and non-discrimination legislation.

The European Commission therefore set up the former network of legal experts in gender equality and the network on non-discrimination to support its work by providing independent information and advice on relevant developments in the Member States. The two networks were merged in December 2014 and are now jointly managed by Human European Consultancy, the Migration Policy Group (MPG) and Utrecht University (UU) on behalf of the European Commission.

A primary task of the European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination is to provide reliable expert information to enable the Commission to fulfil their role as guardian of the treaties. It is therefore one of the key goals of the network to disclose and gather information that is often not easily accessible due to the specificities of national legal systems or language barriers. In particular, the network provides reporting on the transposition of and compliance with the gender equality and non-discrimination directives, national court rulings as well as the impact of judgements of the Court of Justice of the European Union and, where appropriate, of the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights on national law, the role of equality bodies as well as legislative and political developments at national level.

The dissemination of general information about the acquis (communautaire and national), the latest developments at the EU level and in the countries involved in the network, remains a vital issue both for the further implementation of gender equality and non-discrimination law and its further development. Only upon the basis of the disclosure of gender equality and non-discrimination problems persisting in the Member States and other countries involved in the network, will it be possible to develop sound policies and legal rules for remedying these.

Recent focal points of the work of the network are discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation as well as gender identity/expression and sex characteristic, violence against women and domestic violence, the role of equality bodies, and the use of artificial intelligence.

On this website the network publishes information on developments in gender equality and non-discrimination law at the Member State and European level. More information can be found via our legal developments page and the individual country pages.

Go to the website of Human European Consultancy
Go to the website of Utrecht University
Go to the website of the Migration Policy Group

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