Tackling Different Forms of Discrimination in and through Education and Training. Issue Paper. Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training (2021-2025). European Education Area Strategic Framework

This Issue Paper on 'Tackling different forms of discrimination in and through education and training' has been produced within the framework of the European Commission's Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training. The Working Group (WG) operates within the context of the Commission's Communication of 30 September 2020 on Achieving the European Education Area by 2025 and the Council Resolution of 26 February 2021 on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030). Participants of the WG comprise of representatives from Member States and Candidate countries, as well as from relevant EU agencies, stakeholder associations, social partners and international organisations. The WG is coordinated by DG EAC of the European Commission, supported by consultants from Ecorys1. The Issue Paper is a key output related to two WG meetings held on 9 June (online) and 22-23 September (in-person) 2022, and one Peer Learning Activity (PLA) held in Paris on 12-13 December 2022. The WG meetings focused on the EU non-discrimination policy instruments, tackling prejudice and discrimination in education and training relating to religion and beliefs, ethnic and racial origin, disability, sexual orientation, as well as addressing multiple discrimination and intersectionality. The PLA hosted by the French Ministry of National Education in Paris focused on social and territorial inequalities in and through education. This Paper presents some of the major insights, findings, discussions, and inspirational practices that arose from the two WG meetings and the PLA. As an outcome of those discussions, the main aim of this Paper is to frame and give depth to the various presentations and discussions that took place during these events. The Paper addresses six main themes relating to tackling different forms of discrimination and disadvantage in and through education: (1) Tackling discrimination based on ethnic or racial origin, including discrimination against Roma; (2) Tackling discrimination relating to religion and beliefs; (3) Tackling discrimination based on disability; (4) Tackling discrimination relating to sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics; (5) Tackling social and territorial inequalities; and (6) Tackling multiple discrimination: an intersectional approach.