Article 2 of the EC Treaty provides that promotion of equality between men and women is a task of the European Community. Under Article 3(2), the Community should aim to eliminate inequalities and promote equality between men and women.

This Green Paper on "Equality and non-discrimination in an enlarged EU", adopted by the European Commission on 26 May, outlines the steps that the EU has already taken to ban discrimination in employment and beyond. It identifies areas where further action is required to ensure that people across the enlarged EU can benefit from these new rights, as well as a range of practical measures that could support the efforts of national authorities, civil society and other stakeholders.

This is a report of the European Commission written by Professor O. De Schutter. The report "offers an overview of the protection from discrimination under the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights and the 1961 European Social Charter as well as the 1996 Revised European Social Charter, which are the main human rights treaties of the Council of Europe.

This convention lays down a framework for the activities of private employment agencies. Article 1 defines the type of legal or natural person who would fall within the definition of "private employment agency". Under Article 5, state parties to the Convention are required to "ensure that private employment agencies treat workers without discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction, social origin, or any other form of discrimination covered by national law and practice, such as age or disability".

These principles are organized around the following themes: (1) independence, (2) participation, (3) self-fulfillment, (4) dignity and (5) care. These principles reflect the need for striking a balance between integrating older people into society while acknowledging their special needs. Article 18 provides that "older persons should be treated fairly regardless of age, gender, racial or ethnic background, disability or other status, and be valued independently of their economic contribution." It was adopted by General Assembly resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991

This protocol includes provisions that address the needs of specific groups of people. Article 1 requires state parties to recognize the principle of equal treatment and equal opportunities in the field of employment without discrimination on the ground of sex. Article 4 provides for the right of elderly people to social protection, including the "provision of information about services and facilities available for elderly persons and their opportunities to make use of them" (Art.4(1(b)).

Article E in Part V provides for a general non-discrimination clause. Article 20 prohibits discrimination between men and women in employment and calls on states to give recognition to this prohibition and take steps to promote the right to equal opportunity and equal treatment.

This is the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, concluding observations on the initial periodic report of Zambia.

This is the ERT case summary of the European Court of Justice decision of the Incorporated Trustees of the National Council on Ageing (Age Concern England) v. Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

This is the concluding observations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, on the initial periodic report of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It was published on 21 May 2001.