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 27 June 2013

    US: Landmark ruling victories

    The US Supreme Court’s recent decision on same-sex couple legal protections that dramatically advance equality and human rights has been welcomed by the Presidents of both of EI’s affiliates in the US: the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

    US: Landmark ruling victories
  2. News 26 June 2013

    Germany: trade unionists take action against child labour

    During its recent Congress, the Gewerkschaft Erziehung and Wissenschaft (GEW) has reaffirmed its commitment to the right to unrestricted and free access to quality education for everyone as a basic human right, to the UN Millennium Development Goals and to EI’s resolutions on education and on the elimination of child...

    Germany: trade unionists take action against child labour
  3. News 13 June 2013

    Uzbekistan urged to end forced labour

    During the International Labour Conference (ILC), workers, employers and governments condemned Uzbek authorities for their non-compliance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

    Uzbekistan urged to end forced labour
  4. News 13 June 2013

    Brazil: EI calls for investigation into assassination of indigenous land protestor

    EI and its affiliate in Brazil, the Confederaçao Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Educaçao (CNTE), have condemned the death of Terena native Oziel Gabriel during a land conflict in the municipality of Sidrolândia on 30 May in Mato Grosso do Sul.

    Brazil: EI calls for investigation into assassination of indigenous land protestor
  5. News 12 June 2013

    Child labour undermines quality education

    Every 12 June, Education International (EI) and its member organisations worldwide celebrate the World Day against Child Labour (WDCL). On that day, they highlight the global extent of child labour and raise awareness on the situation of millions of children, girls and boys, working across the globe.

    Child labour undermines quality education
  6. News 7 June 2013

    Senegal: Education key to eliminating child labour - workshop

    Eradicating child labour and improving the quality of education are inextricably linked. That’s according to Marième Sakho Dansokho, EI Executive Board member and General Secretary of SYPROS. She was speaking at EI’s “Omar's Dream” workshops on 3-4 June in Dakar, Senegal. The workshops explored the contribution teaching unions can make...

    Senegal: Education key to eliminating child labour - workshop
  7. News 23 May 2013

    Peru: Indigenous peoples discuss public education

    The III Meeting on Public Education and Indigenous Peoples, held from 15-16 May in Cusco, Peru, brought together indigenous education union leaders from several countries. The participants demanded respect for their communities’ rights, a multicultural and multilingual education, and integration based on understanding and equality.

    Peru: Indigenous peoples discuss public education
  8. News 16 May 2013

    IDAHO: Governments must honour human rights’ obligations

    On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia on 17 May, EI calls on governments to honour the obligations outlined in the UN Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action (UN VDPA, June 1993). Those obligations have been affirmed as universal, indivisible and consistent with all human rights.

    IDAHO: Governments must honour human rights’ obligations
  9. News 29 April 2013

    Mali: Child labour under the spotlight

    The Syndicat National de l’Education et de la Culture UNTM (SNEC-UNTM), EI’s affiliate in Mali, organised a very successful national workshop on combating child labour from 14 to 26 April in Bamako.

    Mali: Child labour under the spotlight
  10. News 25 April 2013

    Same-sex marriage victories in France, New Zealand and Uruguay

    EI welcomes the record of victories on marriage equality in three regions and calls on unions to act towards equality. France became the 14th country to legalise same-sex marriage on 24 April, New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so on the eve of 16...

    Same-sex marriage victories in France, New Zealand and Uruguay
  11. News 19 April 2013

    Canada: working to end violence against women and girls

    EI’s affiliate, the Canadian Federation of Teachers (CTF), held its 2013 Women’s Issues Symposium from 17-18 April in Ottawa. This year's theme focused on violence against women and girls. In Canada, violence against women and girls is all too prevalent. It targets all groups of women, across age, ethnic, class...

    Canada: working to end violence against women and girls
  12. News 26 March 2013

    United Kingdom: Transgender primary school teacher dies

    After having been publicly bullied in a newspaper column in the United Kingdom’s second-largest paper, the Daily Mail, a transgender teacher is said to have taken her own life when the attacks became too much to cope with.

    United Kingdom: Transgender primary school teacher dies
  13. News 21 March 2013

    EI furthers its gender equality strategy

    The 41st EI Executive Board, meeting on 19-21 March in Brussels, Belgium, has adopted the EI Global Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP), and endorsed a second EI World Women’s Conference.

    EI furthers its gender equality strategy
  14. News 5 March 2013

    UK: Homophobic bullying still a problem for LGBT teachers

    The overwhelming majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teachers have experienced bullying and harassment related to their sexuality during their careers. This is according to a conference organised by one of EI’s affiliates in England, NASUWT.

    UK: Homophobic bullying still a problem for LGBT teachers
  15. News 5 March 2013

    Women’s Day: from words to action

    In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a political leader in Germany, first suggested the idea of an annual Women’s Day at the second International Conference of Working Women. Going from strength to strength, year after year in all corners of the globe, International Women’s Day has become a day of recognition, celebration...

    Women’s Day: from words to action
  16. News 27 February 2013

    UN CSW: No more words, time for action!

    The 57th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW) is being held in New York, USA, from 4-15 March. This year's priority theme is: The Elimination and Prevention of all Forms of Violence against Women and Girls.

    UN CSW: No more words, time for action!