[28.10.2008] - “For Diversity. Against Discrimination.” campaign reaches out at local events across the EU-27(UK)

Reaching out, going local: UK

The “For Diversity. Against Discrimination.” campaign is in full-swing across all 27 EU-Member States. Initiated by the European Commission, the campaign aims to inform people about their rights and obligations under EU-wide anti-discrimination legislation. This autumn, it will link-up with more than a hundred events across Europe to raise awareness about the problems of discrimination in all its forms and to promote the benefits of diversity to local audiences.

Download the press release here - UK (100 KB)

[28.10.2008] - “For Diversity. Against Discrimination.” campaign reaches out at local events across the EU-27 (Ireland)

Reaching out, going local: Ireland

The “For Diversity. Against Discrimination.” campaign is in full-swing across all 27 EU-Member States. Initiated by the European Commission, the campaign aims to inform people about their rights and obligations under EU-wide anti-discrimination legislation. This autumn, it will link-up with more than a hundred events across Europe to raise awareness about the problems of discrimination in all its forms and to promote the benefits of diversity to local audiences.

Download the press release here - Ireland (99 KB)

[21.12.2007] - Winner of the European Union and MTV’s creative competition promoting diversity and equality announced

Creative competition: winning picture

19-year-old Elena Bezborodova, a Russian student living in Limerick, Ireland, has been selected by the public as the winner of the creative competition promoting Diversity and Equality.  Her picture has been chosen from among more than 500 entries from all over the EU which ranged from photographs and posters to collages and videos.

Elena impressed the voters with a fresh, young and visually appealing design depicting apples, all different in colour, taste and origin, but which are in fact all equally crunchy and tasty.  Elena wins a trip for two valued at € 4.000 to her favourite European city and a digital camera to register the most memorable moments of this journey. A selection of the twenty best entries will be used in awareness-raising initiatives throughout the EU and will be featured on the competition’s website (www.eudiversity.com) throughout 2008.

The European Union launched this competition to raise awareness on equality and the fight against discrimination with a 30-second advertisement spot on MTV, the world’s largest youth channel.  The ad called on viewers to enter visual artwork on the theme of diversity and equality.  As part of the competition, a DiverseCity webpage was launched.  Here visitors could upload their artwork between 22 October and 8 December, after which they could promote their favourite entry during an online voting from 9 until 16 December.

The competition was part of the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, an EU-wide action year that ran in parallel with the five-year 'For Diversity, Against Discrimination' campaign.  Part of its mission was to inform the public that there are laws to protect people that are discriminated against because of their gender, racial and ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, age and disability.

[18.12.2007] - Portuguese journalist wins this year's 'For Diversity. Against Discrimination' EU press award

The first prize in this year's 'For Diversity. Against Discrimination' Journalist Award has today been awarded to a Portuguese journalist writing about the discrimination faced by migrant workers in the Netherlands. The second and third prizes went to entries from France and the United Kingdom respectively. The special award to mark the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All has been won by an Austrian journalist. A prize-giving ceremony to present the awards will take place in Brussels this evening.

[22.10.2007] - UK journalists recognised by European Commission for contribution to non-discrimination issues

UK print journalists Billy Briggs and Mary O’Hara have been recognised by the European Commission for the contribution they have made to diversity and non-discrimination issues through their writing. Billy Briggs, a freelance journalist specialising in human rights issues, has been awarded first prize in the national category of the EU “For Diversity. Against Discrimination” Journalist Award. Mary O’Hara, Social Affairs Correspondent for The Guardian, was awarded the ‘2007 – European Year of Equal Opportunities for All’ Special Prize, part of the same Journalist Award.

The annual competition, granted by the European Commission as part of the Europe-wide “For Diversity. Against Discrimination” information campaign, is designed to honour journalists who contribute with their work to a better public understanding of the benefits of diversity and the fight against discrimination in employment on the grounds of age, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, disability, religion or belief.

[18.10.2007] - Making a World of Difference

Competition to depict diversity and equality

The European Union today launches its latest competition to raise awareness on equality and the fight against discrimination with a 30-second advertisement spot on MTV, the world’s largest youth channel. The ad calls on viewers to enter artwork, including photos, videos and collages, on the theme of diversity and equality.

Commenting on the launch of the competition, Vladimir Špidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said “Tackling discrimination and promoting equal treatment for all are crucial goals of the European Union. This creative competition is an ideal way to spread these messages, to give Europe's MTV viewers a chance to make their voices heard and to showcase their talents across the EU. We are looking forward to seeing the entries!”

 To read more download the press release here (pdf 117 KB)

[17.10.2007] - Winners of the European Union's 'Breaking Stereotypes' Photo Competition announced

Winner: Krzysztof Goluch, Poland

© EU information campaign "For Diversity. Against Discrimination"

A photography student from Poland has been selected from more than 600 students from across the EU, as the winner of the European Union's Breaking Stereotypes' Photo Competition prize.

Krzysztof Gołuch, from the renowned Czech Institute of Creative Photography of the Silesian University in Opava, impressed judges with his depiction of an ageing man in a wheelchair facing a flight of stairs, a thought-provoking metaphor for the many barriers and forms of discrimination facing people in their daily lives. Nora Krauss, a German student at the Berliner Technische Kunstschule, took second prize and Maja Kurant, also a Polish student from the University of Gdansk, was chosen for the third prize. An exhibition of the best photos is now touring Europe. It was launched this week in Brussels, where the photos are displayed in an open-air exhibition in front of the European Commission's headquarters.

 To read more download the press release here (pdf 260 KB)

 Please click here to download the winner photo (JPEG-file, 178 KB)

[27.06.2007] - Commission acts to close gaps in race equality rules

The Commission has sent formal requests to 14 Member States to fully implement EU rules banning discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin (2000/43/CE). The countries concerned – Spain, Sweden, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Ireland, United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia – have two months to respond, failing which the Commission can take them to the European Court of Justice. The Race Equality Directive was agreed in 2000 with a deadline for implementation into national law by 2003.

Download press release as pdf-file (69,2 KB)

[04.07.2007] - Commission launches public consultation on new anti-discrimination measures

The European Commission has today launched an online consultation on combating discrimination in the Member States and at EU level. The public consultation will help the Commission plan new measures to tackle discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in areas beyond the job market. It comes as the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All – which aims to raise people's awareness of their rights to equal treatment and promote a broad debate on the benefits of diversity to society – enters full swing.

Download press release as pdf-file (72 KB)

[25.04.2007] - European Diversity Truck hitting the road

The European Diversity Truck will hit the road in Strasbourg today and embark on its tour across Europe. Starting from the seat of the European Parliament, the Truck will promote diversity and equal opportunities for all. The journey will take in 19 countries, covering more than 18,000 km. Visiting city centres, universities, job fairs, and public festivals, the mobile information platform will inform people about their rights to equal treatment and promote the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.

 Download press release as pdf-file (222 KB)

 Please click here to download press photo (JPEG-file, 774 KB): Commissioner Vladimir Špidla and MEPs on the Truck

[16.04.2007] - Journalist Award 2006 Prize Ceremony celebrated in Brussels

Commissioner Špidla and Journalist Award 2006 winners join at prize ceremony

The jury selected the following print and online articles as winners:

1st place: Fabrizio Gatti, Italy: "Io schiavo in Puglia" ("I was a slave in Puglia"), L'Espresso

2nd place: Miklós Hargitai, Hungary: "A mi cigánylányunk" ("Our very own gipsy daughter"), Népszabadság Online

3rd place: Petra Sjouwerman, Belgium: "Bedrijf werft enkel autisten aan" ("Company recruits autistic people only"), De Morgen

The Young Journalism Special Award highlighted the role young journalists can play in creating awareness of discrimination and diversity issues in the EU. The entrants provided a fresh and vibrant approach to communicating the important topics of their articles. The EU-wide winning article of the Special Award came from:

Henna Helne, Finland: "Äidit opettelevat lastensa kieltä" ("Mothers learning their children's language"), Anna Magazine

 Download press photo (JPEG-file, 1.15 MB)

 Download press release (PDF-file, 75,6 KB)

[01.03.2007] - EU launches European Photo Competition for Diversity

Photography students from across the European Union can make a creative statement about diversity while having their work showcased to an EU-wide audience by entering the 2007 "Breaking Stereotypes" photo competition. The competition runs from March 1st to June 30th, 2007, as part of the EU’s "For Diversity. Against Discrimination." campaign and under the umbrella of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.

 Download press release as pdf-file (91 KB)

[19.02.2007] - EU Journalist Award continues the fight against discrimination

According to a special Eurobarometer poll published in January, 64% of Europeans believe discrimination is widespread in their country and more than half feel not enough is being done to combat the problem.  Raising awareness of every citizen's right not to be discriminated against, showing the negative effects of discrimination and explaining the benefits and opportunities of diversity are therefore not only important, but vital in making equality a reality.

 Download press release as pdf-file (258 KB)