Equality Summit

15 – 16 November 2010

Ten years after Directive 2000/78/CE establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation, and Directive 2000/43/CE implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, the IVth Equality Summit will concentrate on combating discrimination and promoting equality in employment.

The Summit aims at taking stock of the policies implemented to promote non-discrimination and diversity in employment, by examining which tools and practices proved most efficient, and by identifying future lines of action.

“No tools without actors to implement them”: the Summit also offers the opportunity to look at the role of the key actors, which are the social partners and public employers.

This IVth Summit, co-organised by the Belgian Presidency and the European Commission, brings together 500 high-level representatives of the Member States, of candidate countries, EFTA countries, social partners, equality bodies, European NGOs, and representatives of international organisations.

During the plenary sessions and the workshops, debates between all participants will take place. Three of the workshops are indeed interactive (workshops 2, 3 and 4).

Together with the participants from all sectors of society (employers, unions, NGOs, etc), the presence of experts who have developed best practices or have great experience will enhance the quality of the dialogue, the exchanges of ideas and the good practices. Following workshops will be organised :

Workshop 1 – Contribution and role of the social partners in equality and diversity policies

Workshop 2 – Contribution and role of public employers in equality and diversity policies

Workshop 3 – How to welcome diversity in companies?

Workshop 4 – How to react to discrimination in companies?