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. 25 March 2011

    Gender justice is key to real progress

    In 2000 the United Nations’ Millennium Development Summit agreed to eradicate global poverty and save millions of lives through coordinated activity. In 2002, leaders of 189 countries agreed to achieve eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Five years ahead of the deadline, progress has been uneven and the UN...

    Gender justice is key to real progress
  2. Publications

    On the Move for Equality | EI’s First World Women’s Conference

    Conference Report
    14 March 2011

    On the Move for Equality, EI’s first world women’s conference took place in Bangkok, Thailand, 20-23 January, 2011. This report outlines the discussions and outcomes of this ground-breaking event.

    On the Move for Equality | EI’s First World Women’s Conference
    1. Download
  3. News 8 March 2011

    International Women’s Day: Invest in education of girls!

    There is no tool more effective for development and poverty reduction than the education of girls. Today, on International Women’s Day, EI demands greater investment in and political commitment to achieving this goal.

    International Women’s Day: Invest in education of girls!
  4. News 8 March 2011

    8 March: EI celebrates International Women' Day

    Women around the world continue to face systemic discrimination and inequality in education opportunities and access to decent work.

    8 March: EI celebrates International Women' Day
  5. News 3 March 2011

    EI Demands Gender Pay Equity Now!

    March 5 is European Equal Pay Day which serves to remind us all that a gender pay gap still exists within every single European country.

    EI Demands Gender Pay Equity Now!
  6. News 25 February 2011

    Sexual violence: combating impunity in DRC

    EI has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of high-ranking officers in the Congolese army for committing mass rapes of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    Sexual violence: combating impunity in DRC
  7. News 23 February 2011

    Women bloggers help to shape UN agenda

    Trade union women are giving workers a voice to share their experiences on a joint ITUC-PSI-EI blog dedicated to the United Nations’ 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

    Women bloggers help to shape UN agenda
  8. News 21 February 2011

    Unions advocate for gender equality and decent work at the UN

    Education International, in partnership with other Global Unions, is bringing the expertise of teachers to the 55th UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York, USA.

    Unions advocate for gender equality and decent work at the UN
  9. News 18 February 2011

    Unions advocate for gender equality in education at the UN

    Education International, working together with other Global Unions, is ready to bring and share their expertise at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW).

    Unions advocate for gender equality in education at the UN
  10. 31 January 2011

    Statement by the FGESRS, Tunisia, made during Education International’s First World Women’s Conference in Bangkok

    The movement of uprising against dictatorship and corruption which Tunisia, my country, has been witnessing for a month, has enabled our people to engage in an heroic struggle to recover its National pride and rights which have been denied to it. An historic stage on the road to freedom and...

    Statement by the FGESRS, Tunisia, made during Education International’s First World Women’s Conference in Bangkok
  11. News 26 January 2011

    Women's conference pushes for a better world

    'There can be a better world' was the rallying cry of almost 400 participants from 87 countries who participated in EI's first World Women's Conference, On the Move for Equality, in Bangkok, 20-23 January.

    Women's conference pushes for a better world
  12. News 22 January 2011

    Empowering women and girls through education

    EI's first World Women's Conference continued into its second day as women unionists around the world debate ways to empower girls and women through education.

    Empowering women and girls through education
  13. News 21 January 2011

    Maternity protection and social benefits vital to women

    In a workshop session on ‘Maternity Protection and Social Benefits’ at the EI World Women’s Conference,participants shared concerns about the lack of maternity protection and the curtailment of social benefits on women worldwide.

    Maternity protection and social benefits vital to women
  14. News 21 January 2011

    Women unionists take stock of the status of women in today's world

    The EI World Women's Conference began with a stock-taking of the status of women in the world 30 years after the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and 15 years after the Beijing Platform for Action.

    Women unionists take stock of the status of women in today's world
  15. News 21 January 2011

    Teachers play important role to achieve gender equality

    In the opening speech to the first EI World Women’s Conference, EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen, acknowledged that “EI has been on the move for equality since its creation in 1993.”

    Teachers play important role to achieve gender equality
  16. News 21 January 2011

    World Women’s Conference: Strengthening EI Women’s Networks

    The pre-World Women’s Conference meetings of the regional women’s networks’ generated passionate discussions on relevant issues which will be followed up over the next three days in sessions of the Conference.

    World Women’s Conference: Strengthening EI Women’s Networks
  17. News 19 January 2011

    Global March marks 13 years of action against exploitation

    The Global March Against Child Labour is celebrating today 13 years of mobilising worldwide efforts to protect and promote the rights of all children, including the right to receive a free, meaningful education and to be free from economic exploitation.

    Global March marks 13 years of action against exploitation