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 8 March 2007

    On International Women’s Day, EI Latin America launches the Gender Equity Project

    On International Women’s Day and within the framework of the 6th EI Latin American Regional Conference, 32 education sector unions from 18 countries in the region are launching the “Equity with Gender Perspective” project.

    On International Women’s Day, EI Latin America launches the Gender Equity Project
  2. News 5 March 2007

    The Fight for Gender Equality Must Continue, says EI on the occasion of International Women's Day

    On the occasion of International Women's Day, Education International reminds its member organisations that the fight for gender equality must continue, especially when there is still a huge gap in pay parity and working conditions between men and women in many parts of the world.

    The Fight for Gender Equality Must Continue, says EI on the occasion of International Women's Day
  3. News 23 February 2007

    EI-PSI-ITUC Joint Statement on the 51st Session of the UN Comission on the Status of Women, New York, March 2007

    Over 50 million women from 160 countries belong to trade unions, making the union movement the single largest voice of working women. Unions have a global reach, members working in all types of jobs, from professionals to low-skilled workers and in the informal economy.

    EI-PSI-ITUC Joint Statement on the 51st Session of the UN Comission on the Status of Women, New York, March 2007
  4. News 12 February 2007

    Albanian Unions receive award for efforts on child labour

    At the National Education Exhibition (NOT) in the Netherlands held in Utrecht from 23-27 Jan 2007 Stavri Liko, Coordinator of the Child Labour Programme of EI affiliates in Albania, picked up a cheque for € 17,750 in support of the programme.

    Albanian Unions receive award for efforts on child labour
  5. 1 January 2007

    Childhood is for school and play, not work

    There are mountains of garbage, as far as the eye can see. Vultures circle overhead. The heat is oppressive. Dust chokes the lungs. Above all, a powerful stench pervades the scene.

    Childhood is for school and play, not work
  6. 1 November 2006

    Women educators unite across Europe

    All those who share the belief in education as an intrinsic human right also share the responsibility of promoting non-discrimination in our unions, our schools and our societies.

    Women educators unite across Europe
  7. News 30 June 2006

    EI: Satisfaction over UN Human Rights Council's adoption of the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

    EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen expressed satisfaction over the decision of the UN Human Rights Council to adopt the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “The Declaration will strengthen the international human rights system and will promote mutual respect between indigenous peoples and states”, he said.

    EI: Satisfaction over UN Human Rights Council's adoption of the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  8. News 19 June 2006

    EI protests against trafficking of women and young girls during the World Cup

    In a letter addressed to the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on 19 June, EI expressed its concern about the trafficking of women and girls into Germany who are being exploited in the sex industry for the World Cup season.

    EI protests against trafficking of women and young girls during the World Cup
  9. News 18 May 2006

    Canada: National Day Against Homophobia - New teacher resource aims to nurture better understanding of BGLTT students

    EI affiliate, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), is pleased to release on this National Day Against Homophobia, 17 May, "The Gay-Straight Student Alliance Handbook", the latest in a series of publications aiming to help teachers, school administrators and counselors in understanding the educational, health and safety needs of bisexual, gay,...

    Canada: National Day Against Homophobia - New teacher resource aims to nurture better understanding of BGLTT students
  10. 16 May 2006

    Comments of Education International on the ILO Global Report on Child Labour 2006 “The end of Child Labour: within reach”

    “The end of Child Labour: within reach” is the second report that the ILO, under the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, releases since 2002. The report's objective is to analyze and show progress made on the child labour (Child Labour) issue over the past four years, as...

    Comments of Education International on the ILO Global Report on Child Labour 2006 “The end of Child Labour: within reach”