Ei-iE

Jens Kalaene
Jens Kalaene

Equity and inclusion

We defend and promote the principles of equity and equality in education, in education unions and in society. We are fully committed to combating all forms of racism and of bias or discrimination due age, disability, ethnicity or indigeneity, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, language, marital status, migratory status, political activism, religion, socio-economic status, trade union affiliation, among others. We are committed to addressing these forms of discrimination through an intersectional lens, which enables a deeper understanding of the complexities of lived experiences.

I think Education International has a leadership role to play… If we’re going to have a more civil society, a more inclusive society, then we have to model that by including men but women as well, people of different ethnic groups or religious backgrounds. All of us have to be involved and be at the table and have that kind of respect.

Professor Mary Hatwood Futrell, First elected EI President, 1993–2004

Promoting and advancing gender equality has always been an Education International priority. We believe that education can play a key role in empowering women and girls and can contribute to breaking through the cycle of gender discrimination. The Education International Gender Equality Action Plan highlights three main priorities:

  1. Promoting women’s leadership and participation within education unions;
  2. Taking action to increase intersectional gender equality in and through education;
  3. Promoting and securing women’s economic empowerment.

The unequal and gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic risks erasing years of progress on equity and inclusion throughout the world. Together with our member organisations, we mobilise to challenge and help dismantle all structures of inequality in education and beyond. As part of this work, we have called for equity audits to be conducted at all levels of education in order to ensure the pandemic does not define the lives of an entire generation of students.

Our work in this area

  1. News 6 December 2019

    Latin America: Women’s network reaffirms fight against discrimination

    The Education International Latin America (EILA) Network of Women Education Workers held its regional meeting in Curitiba, Brazil, on 2 and 3 December. Representatives of Latin American trade union organizations affiliated to EILA met to discuss the regional situation and the political role of women.

    Latin America: Women’s network reaffirms fight against discrimination
  2. Worlds of Education 6 December 2019

    #RatifyC190 “Strong will”, by Destaye Tadesse.

    Destaye Tadesse

    On 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-based Violence - we called on governments to immediately ratify ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work. The Convention is the result of 10 years of mobilisation and activism by the global trade union...

    #RatifyC190 “Strong will”, by Destaye Tadesse.
  3. Worlds of Education 4 December 2019

    #RatifyC190 “Quashed dreams”, by Eringu Etonu.

    Eringu Etonu

    On 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-based Violence - we called on governments to immediately ratify ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work. The Convention is the result of 10 years of mobilisation and activism by the global trade union...

    #RatifyC190 “Quashed dreams”, by Eringu Etonu.
  4. News 3 December 2019

    International Day of Persons with Disabilities: EI calls for inclusion

    Education International (EI) has fought for the rights of persons with disabilities since its creation more than a quarter century ago. The preoccupations of EI included the societal problems related to the human rights of persons with disabilities in general, and that of children, teachers and educators with disabilities in...

    International Day of Persons with Disabilities: EI calls for inclusion
  5. Worlds of Education 27 November 2019

    #RatifyC190 "Violence against women: a case study in the French public research", by Dina Bacalexi and Bruno Pouvelle.

    Bruno Pouvelle, Dina Bacalexi

    On 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-based Violence - we called on governments to immediately ratify ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work. The Convention is the result of 10 years of mobilisation and activism by the global trade union...

    #RatifyC190 "Violence against women: a case study in the French public research", by Dina Bacalexi and Bruno Pouvelle.
  6. Worlds of Education 22 November 2019

    #CRC30 “Ending corporal punishment in schools – a pathway to protecting the right to education”, by Baguma Filbert Bates.

    Baguma Filbert Bates

    In Uganda, corporal punishment was declared unlawful in schools in March 2016 when the Children’s Act was amended and indeed since 2006, corporal punishment had been discouraged by Ministerial Guidelines. However, it remains a big challenge because in many schools, particularly in the remoter rural areas, it is a deeply...

    #CRC30 “Ending corporal punishment in schools – a pathway to protecting the right to education”, by Baguma Filbert Bates.
  7. Worlds of Education 20 November 2019

    #CRC30 “Albania: Teachers’ unions working to realise the right to education for all children”, by Nevrus Kaptelli and Stavri Liko.

    Stavri Liko, Nevrus Kaptelli

    The Albanian Alliance of Education Trade Unions, comprising the Trade Union Federation of Education and Science of Albania (FSASH) and the Independent Trade Union of Albanian Education (SPASH-ITUEA), has been working since 2002 with different projects designed to increase school retention rates and promote inclusion of vulnerable students. Teachers have...

    #CRC30 “Albania: Teachers’ unions working to realise the right to education for all children”, by Nevrus Kaptelli and Stavri Liko.
  8. News 11 October 2019

    International Day of the Girl: educators celebrate the power of girls to change the world

    The global education union movement applauds the momentous activism and leadership of girls around the world. Educators pledge to continue working to empower girls by promoting the inalienable right of every girl to free quality education and by pushing to end school-related gender-based violence. Read David Edwards' statement on the...

    International Day of the Girl: educators celebrate the power of girls to change the world
  9. Worlds of Education 9 October 2019

    #youngteachers “Trade unions at your side!”, by Michal Horník (ČMOS-PS, Czech Republic).

    Michal Horník

    I have been working in the education sector for five years. It is not a long time but it is not a short time either. I have spent a lot of good time teaching students, cooperating with my colleagues and participating in trade union activities - the activities of The...

    #youngteachers “Trade unions at your side!”, by Michal Horník (ČMOS-PS, Czech Republic).
  10. News 30 September 2019

    Spain: FECCOO calls for new law to protect LGTBI persons in schools and other education institutions

    In September 2019, the Federation of Educators of the Workers’ Commissions (Federación de Enseñanza de Comisiones Obreras - FECCOO) submitted a hate crimes complaint against the organisation ‘HazteOir’ (Get yourself heard) to the Attorney General’s office and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe.

    Spain: FECCOO calls for new law to protect LGTBI persons in schools and other education institutions