Discrimination

Discrimination is forbidden in the UN's Universal declaration on human rights. In short, discrimination is at hand when identical situations are handled differently.

Equality

The world of research has long been mostly a male world. Not only in reference to men conducting the research, but also thereby that the research itself is directed more to men's conditions, diseases, etc., than to women's.

In a European parliament resolution of 21 May 2008 on women and science, the European Union has noted the importance of equality prevailing in the world of scientists. Equality is also established already in article 141 of the treaty establishing the European Community, which was continued in the Council Directive 76/207/EEG on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment of men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions. See also The European Parliament resolution of 27 September 2007 on equality between women and men in the European Union - 2007. The Council of Europe has a declaration on equality of women and men. Through its Recommendation 1229 (1994), the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly has also expressed itself on equality between women and men. The United Nations has a Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women.

Discrimination

Concerning EC law, Directive 2000/43/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin should be mentioned, as well as Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation. Furthermore, the EU Council has decided to establish an action programme to combat discrimination (Council Decision 2000/750/EC). The Council of Europe has, in the 12th protocol in connection with the European Convention on human rights, generally forbidden discrimination. There is also a United Nations convention from 1965 on the abolition of all forms of race discrimination (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) as well as a 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In other areas, in its constitution the International Labour Organization has spoken out against all discrimination. The organization also has a convention (no. 111) concerning discrimination with regard to employment and trade practice. A fundamental document for the work fighting discrimination against the handicapped are the UN's standard rules from 1993. Furthermore, Inclusion International has presented The Inclusion International Principles.

Last updated: 2010-01-03