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 18 December 2013

    Sri Lanka: Seminar focused on union role in national legislation

    National laws, especially on gender issues, came under the spotlight at an International Labour Organisation (ILO)/National Laws Seminar evaluation and planning meeting attended by six EI affiliates from Sri Lanka. The seminar was organised by EI and its Norwegian affiliate, UEN, in Colombo, from 13-15 December.

    Sri Lanka: Seminar focused on union role in national legislation
  2. News 18 December 2013

    Respect migrant workers’ rights, say unionists worldwide

    The contribution of migrants to their host countries and countries of origin must be recognised. That’s according to Global Unions, the international trade union organisations, which include EI. Global Unions made the call to mark International Migrants’ Day on 18 December. In their statement, the Global Unions call for the...

    Respect migrant workers’ rights, say unionists worldwide
  3. News 25 November 2013

    Joint Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

    Gender-based violence (GBV) is a fundamental violation of human rights. It is one of the worst manifestations of gender-based discrimination, disproportionately affecting girls and women, and a major obstacle to achieving gender equality. This is a global phenomenon that knows no boundaries geographical, cultural, ethnic, economic or other.

    Joint Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
  4. News 21 November 2013

    Senegal: Call for increased participation of women

    Some 300 women (and a number of men) from 100 countries are attending the second world women's conference organised by the International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC) in Dakar, Senegal, from 19-21 November. This is the first time that an African country is hosting an ITUC World Women’s Conference. In recognising...

    Senegal: Call for increased participation of women
  5. News 14 November 2013

    Argentina: Call for free lay and egalitarian sex education

    EI’s affiliate in Argentina, the Confederación de Trabajadores de la Educación de la República Argentina (CTERA), supported the theme of the XXII March for Pride in Sexual Diversity: “Free lay and egalitarian sexuality education”; the march proceeded from the Plaza de Mayo to the Plaza del Congreso in Buenos Aires...

    Argentina: Call for free lay and egalitarian sex education
  6. News 7 November 2013

    Nepal: Union rights and gender issues highlighted at educators’ workshop

    EI and its national affiliates, the Nepal National Teachers' Association (NNTA), the Nepal Teachers' Association (NTA), and the Sansthagat Vidyalaya Schickshak Union Nepal (ISTU), co-organised a joint workshop on trade union rights and gender issues in trade unions, education and society in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 22-24 October. Discussions were held...

    Nepal: Union rights and gender issues highlighted at educators’ workshop
  7. News 25 October 2013

    European trade unionists want equality added to quality in education

    The Standing Committee for Equality of EI’s European region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), has met in Brussels, Belgium. From 21-22 October, education unionists highlighted the need for and activities organised to achieve equality in education.

    European trade unionists want equality added to quality in education
  8. Publications

    Child labour and Education for all

    A resource guide for trade unions and a call against child labour and for education for all
    16 October 2013

    The effective elimination of all forms of child labour is a key objective of the international trade union movement. Universal access to free, quality, compulsory, basic education is the foundation stone to achieve this goal. ILO Convention 138 makes clear the linkages between the elimination of child labour and access...

    Child labour and Education for all
    1. Download
  9. News 15 October 2013

    USA: Union leaders arrested while defending immigrant rights

    EI’s national affiliates, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), have condemned trade union leaders’ arrests during marches to demand a vote on comprehensive immigration reform in their country.

    USA: Union leaders arrested while defending immigrant rights
  10. 11 October 2013

    Message by Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary of Education International, on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, 11 October 2013

    The International Day of the Girl Child was celebrated for the first time in 2012 as a way of promoting girls’ human rights and focusing attention on the many challenges faced by girl children all over the world. Education International (EI) welcomes this year’s theme to mark Girl Child Day:...

    Message by Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary of Education International, on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, 11 October 2013
  11. News 11 October 2013

    International Day of the Girl Child 2013

    Today, as we celebrate the second international day of the girl child, we also note that 2013 has put the challenges that girls face in accessing and successfully completing education at the very top of the international policy agenda. This is in no small measure due to the courage of...

    International Day of the Girl Child 2013
  12. News 10 October 2013

    Miscellaneous News

    Other related news on EU issues

    Miscellaneous News
  13. News 9 October 2013

    Global conference, including teachers, commits to fight child labour

    Over 1,200 representatives of governments, workers, employers, and civil society from across the globe gathered at the Third Global Conference on Child Labour, held from 8-10 October in Brasilia, Brazil. Thanks to a successful advocacy effort by the education union delegation and the support from other stakeholders, social dialogue and...

    Global conference, including teachers, commits to fight child labour
  14. News 4 October 2013

    EI to participate in the Global Conference on Child Labour

    A delegation of Education International will bring the teacher voice at the 3rd Global Conference on Child Labour, which will be held from 8 to 10 October 2013, in Brasilia, Brazil.

    EI to participate in the Global Conference on Child Labour
  15. News 19 September 2013

    EI regional conferences: Gender equality at heart of discussions

    Kuala Lumpur: More than 80 trade unionists from the Asia-Pacific region gathered at the Women’s Caucus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, prior to the 7th EI regional conference. The Caucus theme was: “Achieving gender equality through ending discrimination (against women and girls) in education”.

    EI regional conferences: Gender equality at heart of discussions
  16. News 23 August 2013

    EI: Respect for every child’s right to education

    EI welcomes this initiative by affiliates to initiate international work to fight child labour. “Teachers are uniquely placed to make sure that every child’s right to education, and furthermore to quality education, is respected worldwide,” EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen said.

    EI: Respect for every child’s right to education