Welcome to the Campaign
The launch of the Declaration of Principles on Equality, on 21 October 2008 in London, marked the beginning of a campaign for its universal recognition. The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) is seeking the widest possible dissemination of the Declaration and is calling for endorsements from individuals and organisations who want to publicly state their recognition of the Principles set out in the Declaration.

Click here to read and endorse the Declaration.

How can the Declaration help you?
The Declaration should be a useful tool in combating discrimination in the broadest range of activities, from raising awareness about the right to equality to setting in place laws that will effectively protect from discrimination and promote equality. For example: make a reference to the Declaration when reporting about acts or practices that are in breach of the Principles; invoke the Declaration when formulating a complaint in a public interest litigation case; appeal to the Parliament to be guided by the Declaration’s principles when drafting a comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation; call on the government to abide by the principles when drafting and implementing any policies relevant to equality.

How you can help
In addition to signing the Declaration you may also wish to join the Equal Rights Trust in disseminating it. Please use the “Email this” facility at the bottom of this page or send a link to this page to any individual or organisation concerned with human rights or equality as well as individuals and organisations representing or supporting a discriminated group.

You could also write an article about the Declaration for your local paper, or write about it on your blog, or take other appropriate steps to make the Declaration known to the people who should know about it: both the victims of discrimination and those who have the duty to protect them.

Should you wish to translate the Declaration into another language, it is recommended that you first contact ERT at info@equalrightstrust.org to avoid unnecessary duplication. To check translations of the Declaration that are already available please click here.

Everyone is free to post the text of the Declaration on their website or to disseminate it by other means. Please note that the only condition for translation, reproduction, storage or transmission of this document is that the source, The Equal Rights Trust, is mentioned and that reproduction is not for commercial purposes.

Remember to send ERT a copy
ERT would like to receive notification of any electronic posting and a copy of any printed reproduction of the Declaration as well as an electronic copy of any translation, which should be available for sharing with others free of charge.

Send us your news
ERT would also appreciate receiving information on any steps taken, no matter how small, to disseminate and publicise the Declaration as well as any reactions to the Declaration from authorities, including judicial bodies, if a reference to the Declaration was made in the course of litigation. We will make this information available together with other news about the Campaign on this website. Please send all information to info@equalrightstrust.org, or use the “Feedback” function at the bottom of the page.

For other language versions of the Declaration click here.

Campaign News

19/10/09 ERT Urges Malian Parliament to improve and pass new Family Code
The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) has called on members of the National Assembly of Mali to ensure that the draft Persons and Family Code is not regressively amended in response to concerns about the extension of equal rights for women. ERT’s letter says that ‘there is much to be welcomed in the Code’ but also identifies three articles in the Code which undermine the principles of equal participation and non-discrimination, and calls for these provisions to be amended before the Code is adopted.
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01/10/09 ERT calls on Latvian Parliament to reject amendments which ‘level down’ in response to discrimination ruling
The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) submitted an expert opinion to Latvia’s Saeima (Parliament) on the proposed amendments to the State Pensions Act proposed in response to the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment in the case of Andrejeva v. Latvia. In its submission, ERT argues that the amendments – which aim to end discrimination against non-citizens with respect to pension entitlements by “leveling down” entitlements for both citizens and non-citizens – are contrary to Latvia’s international legal obligations, and to the object and purpose of domestic equality legislation.
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25/09/09 ERT Report on Religion and Healthcare in the European Union published
The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) today announces the publication of its report Religion and Healthcare in the European Union: Policy Issues and Trends, a policy research report commissioned by the Network of European Foundations. The report analyses the current legal basis of health policy in the European Union from the perspective of the integrated framework on equality expressed in the Declaration of Principles on Equality, providing a platform for further policy discussion.
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18/09/09 ERT urges Sudanese parliament to repeal Indecency law
The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) has called on the Parliament of Sudan to repeal Article 152 of the 1991 Criminal Act, expressing concern about its discriminatory application and the use of cruel and inhuman punishment. Evidence suggests Article 152 has been used to target women and non-Muslims, and has disproportionately affected both groups. ERT called on Parliamentarians to use the Declaration of Principles on Equality as a tool to review and amend national legislation related to equality.
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13/07/09 ERT submits Written Comments to Moldovan Government on Draft Anti-discrimination Law
The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) has submitted written comments to Vitalie Pârlog, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova on the Draft Law on Preventing and Combating Discrimination. ERT’s submission used the Declaration of Principles on Equality as a basis to recommend a number of amendments to the law, including changes to the definitions of direct and indirect discrimination and the inclusion of a provision for reasonable accommodation.
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