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 3 July 2023

    Developing Child Labour Free Zones is a key to protecting children’s right to education

    “This fight against child labour is grounded in Education International’s belief that education is a human right,” described Pedi Anawi, regional coordinator of EI Africa. “We believe that no child should be left behind.” Child labour prevents children from receiving the education they are entitled to. The online DC (development...

    Developing Child Labour Free Zones is a key to protecting children’s right to education
  2. Statements 19 June 2023

    World Refugee Day: The imperative to save lives and give hope

    The recent shipwreck in the Mediterranean that claimed hundreds of lives highlights once again the plight of those fleeing conflict, poverty, and persecution. Education International and education unions around the world call on all governments to respect the rights of all refugees without discrimination of any kind. Lives must be...

    World Refugee Day: The imperative to save lives and give hope
  3. Statements 10 June 2023

    Education International Statement on World Day against Child Labour

    On World Day against Child Labour, Education International (EI) and its member organisations reiterate their commitment to advocate for the millions of children around the globe who are being exploited through child labour of any form. EI is committed to raising awareness, advocating, and working to eradicate child labour and...

    Education International Statement on World Day against Child Labour
  4. News 9 June 2023

    Eradicating child labour and getting children (back) into school: a fight waged by teachers and their unions around the world

    “One of my pupils, aged 9, had already left for Kayes, 750 km from our village, to work in a gold mine, because of his family's economic situation. His father told me that if I could go to Kayes, he would allow his son to return to school. I borrowed...

    Eradicating child labour and getting children (back) into school: a fight waged by teachers and their unions around the world
  5. Worlds of Education 8 June 2023

    Shining a light on the right to education in Afghanistan

    Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly

    Today, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations will discuss the desperate situation of human rights in Afghanistan, at the International Labour Conference, in Geneva. Through the Afghan Teachers’ Rights Observatory , Education International collects testimonies and calls attention to the terrible conditions facing teachers and...

    Shining a light on the right to education in Afghanistan
  6. Statements 17 May 2023

    IDAHOBIT 2023: Everyone belongs in our unions!

    On May 17th, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Education International (EI) renews its commitment to human rights, respect, social justice, dignity for all, and solidarity.

    IDAHOBIT 2023: Everyone belongs in our unions!
  7. Worlds of Education 17 May 2023

    Who our students see

    Anthony Brisson

    As an educator who taught at the secondary and university levels, I quickly realized education support personnel (ESP) are the glue to our public schools. ESP are often the first people our students see when they are going to school, and the last people our students see when they get...

    Who our students see
  8. Worlds of Education 11 May 2023

    The struggle for the rights and dignity of education support personnel in private schools in Nepal

    Shyam Chhatkuli

    Our union, the Institutional Schools Teachers' Union (ISTU) brings together teachers and education support personnel working in privately funded schools in Nepal. Our mission is to improve the working conditions of our members, ensure their rights are respected, and their important role recognized. Our work is essential, but it is...

    The struggle for the rights and dignity of education support personnel in private schools in Nepal
  9. News 4 May 2023

    Ivory Coast: Teachers mobilise communities to end child labour

    In the rural region of Soubré, Côte d'Ivoire, teachers play a key role in the fight against child labour. Thanks to the training provided by the SYNADEEPCI union in partnership with Education International, UNICEF, and Save the Children, education professionals have learned to distinguish between work that is socialising and...

    Ivory Coast: Teachers mobilise communities to end child labour
  10. News 24 April 2023

    Strengthening education unions, a key priority in Latin America

    Cooperation and solidarity, the Pedagogical Movement and women workers in education and their network. These initiatives to strengthen education unions were debated during the Education International (EI) Development Cooperation Café dedicated to the Latin American region.

    Strengthening education unions, a key priority in Latin America
  11. News 14 April 2023

    Great steps forward for teaching and research at the World Intellectual Property Organisation

    The 43rd meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) concluded with major wins for the rights of teachers and researchers to adapt and choose materials for quality education and research. Education International participated together with member organisations CONADU (Argentina), AUSPS (Fiji),...

    Great steps forward for teaching and research at the World Intellectual Property Organisation
  12. News 11 April 2023

    EI solidarity mission to Türkiye: Educators and unionists on the frontlines

    An Education International delegation visited the earthquake-affected area in Turkiye, meeting with teachers, unionists, volunteers, and local leaders to deliver a message of solidarity and convey condolences for the terrible losses suffered, but also to take stock of the scale of the destruction and the needs on the ground in...

    EI solidarity mission to Türkiye: Educators and unionists on the frontlines
  13. News 4 April 2023

    India: Education International working with educators and allies to eliminate child labour

    “Every child has the right to learn, play, and grow up without being exploited," stated All India Primary Teachers' Federation (AIPTF) General Secretary Kamala Kanta Tripathy during a recent mission led by Education International (EI) as part of EI's work to eliminate child labour.

    India: Education International working with educators and allies to eliminate child labour
  14. Publications

    Global Unions LGBTI Workers: Strategy Roundtable Report

    3 April 2023

    The Global Unions LGBTI Workers project convened a strategy roundtable in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in early December 2022. Representatives of global union federations, their affiliated trade unions, labour movement solidarity organisations, and allies gathered at De Burcht, the former headquarters of the Diamond Workers Union, hosted by Mondiaal FNV and Netwerk...

    Global Unions LGBTI Workers: Strategy Roundtable Report
    1. Download
  15. News 29 March 2023

    UN Conference on the Status of Women: We need action to make gender equality in the digital age a reality

    The 67th session of the UN Committee on the Status of Women (CSW67) held in New York, March 6 to 17 adopted conclusions that acknowledge the critical role of technology and innovation in achieving gender equality and recognise the challenges to gender equality in the digital age.

    UN Conference on the Status of Women: We need action to make gender equality in the digital age a reality
  16. Research

    Education and copyright: Perspectives from the classroom

    Preliminary findings
    15 March 2023

    We know from WIPO’s and our own research that copyright legislation is inadequate for education today. It creates barriers to ensure the right to education as well as curtails teachers’ academic freedom to choose and adapt materials including for cross-border collaboration and exchange.

    Education and copyright: Perspectives from the classroom
    1. Download
  17. News 13 March 2023

    Education unions urge governments to fund inclusive education

    “Unions are a place for inclusion”, Australian Education Union (AEU) Federal Secretary Kevin Bates told participants at the Diversity in Education Conference, a Sydney WorldPride event. Education unions from around the world took part in the Sydney WorldPride, a two weeklong celebration of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender...

    Education unions urge governments to fund inclusive education
  18. Worlds of Education 8 March 2023

    Supporting women’s participation and leadership through digital technologies: lessons from the experiences of education unions during Covid-19.

    Carol Miller, Houda Sabra

    The global Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted women workers. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) documented disproportionate job and income losses suffered by women worldwide during the pandemic : in 2019-2020 alone, women’s employment declined by 4.2% (or 54 million jobs). The situation has put women at greater risk of job loss,...

    Supporting women’s participation and leadership through digital technologies: lessons from the experiences of education unions during Covid-19.