24-25 September 2009 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

Equality statistics:

Outcome of the Task Force work and Eurostat proposal for a follow-up

Agenda point 4.4

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Structure of the presentation

Problem Statement

Policy Context

ESS Context

Mandate of the TF

TF proposals and Eurostat action plan for the follow-up of the TF work

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Problem statement

Policy context (Belinda Pike’s presentation)

ESS context New area ('discrimination') in the Statistical Programme

2008-2013.

New theme 'discrimination’ in the 2008 Annual Statistical Work Programme

Work developed by a Task Force composed of representatives of 11 countries (CZ, DK, FR, HR, IE, IT, NL, AT, UK, NO and CH), of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, of DG EMPL and Eurostat

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Problem statement

Mandate of the TF: Make proposals to fulfil the needs of the Commission's policy on equality:

Ethnic origin

Religion Disability Age Sexual orientation

Gender

Employment andvocational training

x x x x x x

Education x

Access to goods and services

x x

Social protection

x x

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Task Force proposals and Eurostatfollow-up action plan

Proposal 1:

TF proposal: Define a limited set of around 15-20 simple indicators which measure outcome differences extracted from the existing data collections

Follow-up action proposed by Eurostat: Set up an internal Eurostat Task Force in the Social Statistics Directorate to prepare a detailed proposal (based on DG EMPL studies ‘The fight against discrimination and the promotion of equality)

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Task Force proposals and follow-up action plan

Proposal 2:

TF proposal: three classifications to be used

– Classification on ethnic origin:• Production layer:

– Free self-declaration; from a national perspective; combination of origins / main origin

– Country of birth and country of birth of parents (added in the core social variables) used as the proxy definition

• Dissemination layer: aggregated to broad geographical areas– Classification of 'religion/belief': Christian, Muslim, Jew, Sikh,

Buddhist, Hindu, Atheist and Other.

– Classification of 'sexual orientation or attitude': Heterosexual, Homosexual, Bisexual and Other.

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Task Force proposals and follow-up action plan

Proposal 2:

Follow-up action proposed by Eurostat:

- Coordinated approach with the migration WG for further developing the proposed classification on ethnic origin

- Further discuss 'country of birth of parents' in the Social Core Variables WG

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Task Force proposals and follow-up action plan

Proposal 3:

TF proposal: – Development of a survey on experienced discrimination

including: – Incident overview items (number and frequency of

discrimination incidents);– And incident detail items;– Implementation to be further discussed (EPSS, LFS).

Follow-up action proposed by Eurostat:– Develop the sampling aspects as a first step for Eurostat

(EPSS and methodology teams)

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Task Force proposals and follow-up action plan

Proposal 4:

TF proposal: – Embedding a question on 'experienced discrimination' in

existing data collections– "In the past 12 months have you personally felt discriminated

against or harassed on the basis of one or more of the following grounds?”

Follow-up action proposed by Eurostat: – Proposal to be discussed in the corresponding sectoral WG

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Conclusion

The DSS are asked to:

Take note of the work carried out by the Task Force

Agree with the proposed action plan for the follow-up of the TF work