“Let’s all take a bolder stand for diversity and act about it. Let’s show our commitment to equality and this May 2021 celebrate the European Diversity Month together. With more diverse workplaces, we will create a fairer and more equal Europe for all.”
Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Equality
The European Diversity Month is organised by the European Platform of Diversity Charters together with its members and their signatories and raises awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in our workplaces and in the society throughout the whole European Union.
It celebrates organisations’ efforts in promoting diversity and diverse teams in the workplace and for creating inclusive working environments.
European Diversity Month supports the European Commission’s commitment to promote diversity and inclusion and to combat discrimination. The legislation in place has helped to bring about equality and enabled millions of people to reach their full potential. However, we all – public institutions, private companies, small and large employers, non-profit organisations, cities need to work together to build equal and inclusive environments. Especially now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when diversity and inclusion are at risk.
Did you know that over 1 in 2 Europeans (59%) believe that discrimination because of one’s ethnic origin is widespread. One in three people of African descent say they have experienced racist harassment in the five last years. More than 70 years after the Holocaust, widespread antisemitism affects Jewish people in all areas of life in the EU.
For this reason, the European Diversity Month 2021 will bring an extra focus on ethnic diversity.
Why young people are the key?
The call for engaging young people and underlining their importance is everywhere.
Today, young people aged 10 to 24 make up one quarter of the world’s population. The aspirations and achievements of these 1.8 billion people will obviously shape the future. Yet too many young people still grapple with poverty, inequality and human rights violations and this keeps them from reaching their personal and collective potential.
Investing in this generation must be a global priority. This investment is win-win, as it will not only give young people the means to improve their own lives, but also the lives of future generations.
The European Union has its own youth strategy aimed at engaging, empowering and connecting young people from all European countries. The EU Youth Strategy focuses on three core areas of action, around the three words: Engage, Connect, Empower, while working on joined-up implementation across sectors.
The EU Youth Strategy is the framework for EU youth policy cooperation for 2019-2027, based on the Council Resolution of 26 November 2018. EU youth cooperation fosters youth participation in democratic life; it also supports social and civic engagement and aims to ensure that all young people have the necessary resources to take part in society.
During a 2017-2018 dialogue process which involved young people from all over Europe, 11 European Youth Goals were developed. These goals identify cross-sectoral areas that affect young people’s lives and point out challenges.
- Connecting EU with Youth
- Equality of All Genders
- Inclusive Societies
- Information & Constructive Dialogue
- Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Moving Rural Youth Forward
- Quality Employment for All
- Quality Learning
- Space and Participation for All
- Sustainable Green Europe
- Youth Organisations & European Programmes
The EU Youth Strategy should contribute to realising this vision of young people by mobilising EU level policy instruments as well as actions at national, regional and local level by all stakeholders.
During the rest of May the 11 European Youth Goals will be presented one by one.
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