AGE EUD seminar Vienna 060512

“EUD seminar”Workshop on multiple discrimination Vienna 12 May 2006 : 

“EUD seminar” Workshop on multiple discrimination  Vienna 12 May 2006 AGE-the European Older People’s Platform

Structure of presentation: 

Structure of presentation Presenting AGE AGE and age discrimination Multiple discrimination

Presenting AGE: 

Presenting AGE AGE brings Senior‘s organisations together, that work for and with Seniors Goal: Voice opinion of older people and defend their interests Financed by Action Programme to combat discrimination in the EU Activities: Lobby EU institutions Spread information Methods: expert groups, newsletter, website

Combating discrimination : 

Combating discrimination 1997: Article 13 in EC-Treaty EU can combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation 2000: 2 Directives against discrimination Race directive and Employment directive In recital 14 and 3: recognition of multiple discrimination of women Action programme to combat discrimination 2001 – 2006 Continued in period 2007 - 2013

AGE on age discrimination: 

AGE on age discrimination 2 major areas: Employment Monitoring transposition ED, raise awareness, involve stakeholders, etc. Access to goods and services Raise awareness, establish evidence base, explore feasibility of legislation, etc. Capacity-building: Multiple discrimination, equality bodies, cases, etc.

AGE on age discrimination: 

AGE on age discrimination Examples of age discrimination: Employment: mandatory retirement ages Education: state scholarships are only open to people aged under 30 Insurance: travel insurance not accessible for older people Volunteering: a number of age limits exist Media: Negative stereotyping of older people Transport: Accessibility issues in public transport

Multiple discrimination: 

Multiple discrimination Examples of multiple discrimination for older people: Older women are considerably poorer than older men. Lack of legal recognition of same sex partnerships has meant that a same sex partner has no tenancy rights and no legal claim to inheritance of property. The disability benefit system is overtly discriminatory on grounds of age. Older people from ethnic minority groups have difficulty accessing social care services because religious, dietary and language needs are not met.

Multiple discrimination: 

Multiple discrimination People have multiple identities. Mostly analyzed along dual dimension (gender and other ground) Also older people have multiple identities. Range of other characteristics they identify with ‘age’ maybe less important then others Age discrimination can change equality context. Everybody can experience age discrimination No longer a ‘minority issue’

Multiple discrimination: 

Multiple discrimination Experience with victims of discrimination shows that ‘one-ground-discrimination’ not likely. Multiple discrimination takes account of complexity of discrimination and how it is experienced by victims. E.g. ageing and disability With legislation in place, less direct discrimination, but more subtle forms of discrimination. Multiple discrimination allows to take account of social context of discrimination.

Multiple discrimination: 

Multiple discrimination Proof issues with multiple discrimination Insufficient evidence of discrimination on ‘ground by ground’ approach Difficulty to find a situation comparable to a case of multiple discrimination

How to tackle multiple discrimination?: 

How to tackle multiple discrimination? How to raise awareness? Improve understanding of multiple discrimination Make antidiscrimination NGOs work together European year 2007 as an opportunity More evidence needed? How much discrimination is ‘multiple’? What is the impact? Study of European Commission in 2006 Legal issues? Obligation to use one ground with different levels of protection? Limited list of grounds (e.g. socio-economic status) Proof issues Equality bodies How to adapt employment and service provision to increased diversity and multiple identities?

More information??: 

More information?? http://www.age-platform.org/ Mail: geert.decock@age-platform.org