Month: March 2009

The Directive establishes the prohibition of discrimination based on sex in the access to and supply of goods and services.

Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000, establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation, prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation as regards employment and occupation with a view to putting into effect in the Member States the principle of equal treatment.

Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin sets out a binding framework by prohibiting racial discrimination throughout the EU.

The purpose of the Lund Recommendations, like The Hague and Oslo Recommendations before them, is to encourage and facilitate the adoption by States of specific measures to alleviate tensions related to national minorities and thus to serve the ultimate conflict prevention goal of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM).

The resultant Oslo Recommendations Regarding the Linguistic Rights of National Minorities attempt to clarify, in relatively straight-forward language, the content of minority language rights generally applicable in the situations in which the High Commissioner on National Minorities is involved. In addition, the standards have been interpreted in such a way as to ensure their coherence in application.

The resultant Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities attempt to clarify in relatively straight-forward language the content of minority education rights generally applicable in the situations in which the High Commissioner on National Minorities is involved.

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, drawn up within the Council of Europe by Ad Hoc Committee for the Protection of National Minorities (CAHMIN) under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 10 November 1994 and opened for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe on 1 February 1995.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) is a European treaty adopted in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect and promote historical regional and minority languages in Europe.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) on 18 December 1979. The objective of the Convention is to end discrimination against women in all areas of life.

The Convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races.