Equal Opportunities

Definition

Equal opportunities signify equal rights for all people regardless of sex, race, creed, or any other discriminatory factors to enjoy a social environment and access to the social infrastructure, such as education, employment, health care, and other social benefits.

Equal opportunities encompass the rights of all people in various areas. For example, equal opportunities for disabled people may include easy access to cultural and social infrastructure including residences, transportation, and sports and recreation facilities. Application of equal opportunities in Japan has generally tended to focus on ensuring employment practices that do not discriminate on the basis of sex based on the Equal Employment Opportunity Law which aims to promote equal employment opportunities and treatment between men and women and to support healthcare for female workers during pregnancy and after delivery.

The European Commission designated 2007 as the "European Year of Equal Opportunities for All" and the first-ever Equality Summit was in Berlin on January 30 this year. A survey in the European Union conducted in 2006 showed that the concept of equal opportunities is still developing. According to the survey, more than half (51%) of the respondents thought that not enough effort is being made in their country to fight discrimination, and a large percentage (64%) of Europeans believe discrimination is widespread in their country. Further, high percentages believe that being disabled (79%), being a Roma (77%), over age 50 (69%), or of a non-European ethnic origin (62%) tends to be disadvantage in European society *1.