MaltaMedia.com

A recent Eurobarometer survey states that 42% of Europeans think discrimination on the basis of age is widespread. Local survey results revealed that 31% of Maltese believe this. Three per cent (3%) of the Maltese said they felt discriminated against on the grounds of age.

The Maltese seem to be comfortable with having a younger leader under the age of 30, but are less comfortable with having a leader over the age of 75.

Other results show that 89% of Maltese are in favour of introducing measures to offer equal opportunities in the field of employment to those who may be discriminated against due to their age.

The EU has been active in introducing comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. A milestone took place in 1997 with the Treaty of Amsterdam, when EU countries granted the EU new powers to combat discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Since then, Europe-wide protection against discrimination has been developed in employment and occupation. New rules on equal treatment outside the labour market are currently under discussion in the Council of the EU, and require the support of all 27 EU countries before being adopted.

The European Commission’s For Diversity Against Discrimination information campaign informs people in Europe of their rights and responsibilities under EU legislation.

The campaign is organised in all 27 EU Member States to raise awareness of discrimination and the legislation which exists to combat it as well as to highlight the benefits of diversity within the workplace and society at large. It sets out to combat any discrimination based on a person’s racial or ethnic origin in all areas of life and any discrimination in the workplace based on age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

To increase awareness of the campaign at national level, it is linking with relevant events including the Brussels Job Days, Scoolest 2009 in Estonia, a conference dedicated to the European Day on Solidarity and Cooperation between Generations in Bratislava, the German Day of Welfare and the Multicultural Youth Camp in Cyprus. In Malta, the campaign has organized a number of events including a Cartoons Competition and the annual Journalist Award. A Cartoons Exhibition will be held in October 2009.

For more information, visit www.stop-discrimination.info.