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 7 June 2010

    EI welcomes Malawi’s President decision to free LGBT couple

    Malawi’s President Binguwa Mutharika has ordered the immediate release of the two LGBT people who were imprisoned because of their sexual orientation, after allegedly holding an engagement ceremony last December.

    EI welcomes Malawi’s President decision to free LGBT couple
  2. 4 June 2010

    Spain: Education for equality

    The Spanish union FETE-UGT has launched an awareness campaign on gender equality. Developed on the back of an agreement with the Ministry for Equality, it aims to open up new spaces for dialogue and debate on gender equality issues, while providing teachers with specific tools to address the issues across...

    Spain: Education for equality
  3. 4 June 2010

    World Day Against Child Labour: Join the fight

    A new EI publication called Go for the Goal: End Child Labour is being launched on 12 June to mark the World Day Against Child Labour.

    World Day Against Child Labour: Join the fight
  4. News 10 May 2010

    On International Day Against Homophobia EI reaffirms LGBT people’s rights

    Despite significant improvements in recent decades, homophobic harassment and prejudicial treatment continues to span all occupations, including education. The presence of homophobic behavior and attitudes, in all regions, affects the workplace culture which in turn creates hostile and unsafe environments for lesbian and gay teachers.

    On International Day Against Homophobia EI reaffirms LGBT people’s rights
  5. News 15 April 2010

    EI Demands Gender Pay Equity Now!

    April 15 is European Equal Pay Day which serves to remind us all that a gender pay gap still exists within every single European country. The date, April 15, has been selected to symbolise exactly how many more days into the year 2010 women must work simply to earn the...

    EI Demands Gender Pay Equity Now!
  6. 29 March 2010

    International Women’s Day 2010: Celebrating and promoting women’s leadership

    To mark International Women’s Day, 8 March, Worlds of Education asked women trade unionists one key question: What is the most positive development you see on the road to gender equality? Here are some of their thoughts.

    International Women’s Day 2010: Celebrating and promoting women’s leadership
  7. Research

    Education for refugee and asylum seeking children in OECD countries

    Paloma Bourgonje
    16 March 2010

    This study examines the educational situation of refugee and asylum-seeking children in four countries: Australia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In all four countries migration has been a subject of political discussion and even controversy in recent decades.

    Education for refugee and asylum seeking children in OECD countries
    1. Download
  8. News 11 March 2010

    Canada: New CTF study highlights experiences of Aboriginal teachers

    A major study of the professional knowledge and experience of Aboriginal teachers in Canadian public schools was released today at a special Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) event on Aboriginal education.

    Canada: New CTF study highlights experiences of Aboriginal teachers
  9. 10 March 2010

    Statement delivered by Jan Eastman, EI Deputy General Secretary at the Plenary Session on behalf of Public Services International (PSI), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Education International (EI) on the 54th Session of the United Nati

    Below is the speech given by the EI Deputy General Secretary, Jan Eastman, at the Plenary of the 54th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

    Statement delivered by Jan Eastman, EI Deputy General Secretary at the Plenary Session on behalf of Public Services International (PSI), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Education International (EI) on the 54th Session of the United Nati
  10. News 4 March 2010

    Support us in our open letter to the UN chief over the outrage at the 54th Commission on the Status of Women!

    The four Global Unions at the 54th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) currently held in New York issued an open letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, expressing their outrage at the process and substance of the event.

    Support us in our open letter to the UN chief over the outrage at the 54th Commission on the Status of Women!
  11. News 3 March 2010

    Civil society refuses to be silenced at UNCSW

    The trade union delegation present in New York at the 54th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women(UNCSW) denounces the absolute lack of dialogue with civil society during this critical forum to achieve gender equality.

    Civil society refuses to be silenced at UNCSW
  12. News 25 February 2010

    Making unions’ voices heard at the Bejing +15 Review

    The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will review the progress achieved on the commitments made in the Beijing Platform for Action, a global policy framework to advance gender equality formulated in 1995.

    Making unions’ voices heard at the Bejing +15 Review
  13. 22 December 2009

    Teachers are on the move for equality!

    Bringing gender equality closer to reality in the daily lives of women, including through their participation in education unions, is a key principle of EI. With the current crises in¬ food security, climate change and economic recession, this goal of gender equality demands greater effort if it is to be...

    Teachers are on the move for equality!
  14. News 25 November 2009

    Statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

    There are NO excuses. Violence against women is a matter of inequality between women and men. Teacher unions have a key role to play in combating gender-based violent attitudes and EI renews its commitments for human rights and equality between women and men.

    Statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women