Combating discrimination : a training manual

This training tool was developed as part of the EU-funded project 'Capacity Building of Civil Society dealing with Anti-Discrimination' with the aim of providing training on European and national anti-discrimination law and policy to non-governmental organisations in the 10 Member States which joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 as well as in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. NGOs have a vital role to play in making anti-discrimination legislation understood and enforced on the ground. They are essential in speaking on behalf of and defending those they represent as well as raising awareness, of both victims and potential victims of discrimination who are all too often unaware of their rights, and also of the general public. The manual was used by national trainers conducting national training seminars in each involved country. Participants came from a wide variety of non-governmental organisations and associations covering all grounds of discrimination - racial and ethnic origin (including Roma), religion or belief, age, disability and sexual orientation. The main purpose of this project (November 2004-October 2005) was to build up the capacity of civil society by improving NGOs' knowledge on the two EU anti-discrimination Directives (2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC) and relevant national legislation and policies in this area. NGOs were trained to become a key interlocutor of the authorities and to assist the victims of discrimination.