Why join?

Who should join?

The specialised equality bodies united in Equinet are established on the basis of:
- article 13 of the Racial Equality Directive (2000/43/EC), article 8bis of Directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions
- article 12 of the Gender Equality Directive regarding goods and services (2004/113/EC) and article 20 of the recasting Gender Equality Directive (2006/54/EC) with regard to equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation.

Equinet and its members are independent from (yet transparent for and accountable to) governmental structures and a variety of other stakeholders in society, such as legislative bodies, interest groups, the media, NGOs and society at large.

If established on the basis of the above articles, your organization can become a Member of EQUINET and enjoy the following standard benefits available to the members of the network. You can also join as an Observer, for instance in transitional periods for implementing EU requirements to be established as a specialised equality body. Observers can participate in meetings but cannot take part in the decision-making process and don’t enjoy the full range of benefits of membership in the network. The observer status is also limited in time.

Why join?

• Share experiences, legal expertise, enforced strategies and good practices on discrimination issues and equal opportunities.
• Strengthen co-operation at European level and engage in networking to emphasize the key role of equality bodies in the implementation of current and future anti-discrimination legislation
• Receive essential peer support from other specialized equality bodies
• Contribute to the European Equality Agenda and lobby for a better and more comprehensive legislation in the anti-discrimination and equal opportunities field
• Speak with a stronger, more structured and more united voice
• Act in close co-operation with civil society organizations and other networks/umbrella NGOs that share a common interest in anti-discrimination and equal opportunities-related issues
• Raise your profile as a specialized equality body through European cooperation

More specific and practical benefits are:

• Participate in staff trainings and meetings with legal experts and other members of the network
• Take the opportunity to host a training with the support of the network staff and use the occasion to gain visibility at European level
• Participate to other events, seminars, conferences and research   
• Learn from more experienced equality bodies
• Participate to one of Equinet Working Groups on the interpretation of anti-discrimination law, the implementation of the equality bodies’ mandate, policy formation and promotion of equality.
• Access a system of electronic information exchange via the members’ section of the website (including the Equinet forum and library).

Equinet presentation material

• Download the Equinet folder
• Download the factsheet "Why join Equinet"
• Download a PowerPoint general presentation of the Network

Questions?

Please check the Equinet membership information guide or contact us by phone (+32 2212 3182) or email to get more information about our activities.