Dissemination of Information and Encouragement of Dialogue

Governments are obliged by the directives to publicise the legislation introduced against discrimination ‘by all appropriate means’ and of making sure that everyone is aware of its contents and the protection it gives, as well as the penalties for infringement.

At the same time, they are required to take steps to encourage dialogue between ‘the two sides of industry’ — i.e. employer and employee organisations — as well as with NGOs in order to spread the principle and practice of equal treatment.

Governments should, therefore, encourage working practices, codes of conduct and collective agreements to be adopted which emphasise the importance of non-discrimination and which are firmly based on the principle of treating everyone equally and fairly.