Rights: raising awareness of the right to equality and non-discrimination

Representation: stimulating a debate on ways to increase the participation of under-represented groups in society

Recognition: recognizing the positive benefits of diversity and equality

Respect: promoting a more tolerant and cohesive society

The activities undertaken during the Year should be organised around these four themes.

Activities at national level will also focus on the discrimination that people experience because of their race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

The balanced treatment of all the grounds of discrimination (listed above) is a key principle of the Year 2007. This means, for example, that Member States cannot devote 80% of the Year’s budget to one form of discrimination (e.g. to ethnic discrimination) and only 20% to activities related to the other grounds. It also means that Member States must address all the grounds of discrimination. In principle, they cannot avoid organising activities relating to sexual orientation discrimination.

Text from the Decision:

Recital 14: “The European Year will also seek to address issues of multiple discrimination, that is discrimination on two or more of the grounds listed in Article 13 of the Treaty. It will also seek to promote a balanced treatment of all the grounds listed therein.”

Article 5: “The Commission shall ensure that Community actions covered by this Decision are implemented in conformity with the Annex, in particular by making sure that all the forms of discrimination referred to in Article 13 of the Treaty and in Article 2 of this Decision are addressed and dealt with fairly.

Article 6, par. 1: “[…] The national strategy and priorities for the European Year shall be set out in accordance with the objectives listed in Article 2 and shall seek to ensure a balanced treatment of all the grounds of discrimination referred to in Article 2.”