Special Eurobarometer 317: Discrimination in the EU in 2009

The European anti-discrimination legislation is one of the most extensive in the world. Even so, 16% of Europeans reported experiencing discrimination in 2009, with age being the most common reason. However, it is discrimination based on ethnic origin which is most widely perceived. The economic crisis has lowered confidence that governments will promote equality, and increased the belief that discrimination will rise. However, Europeans increasingly believe that enough is being done to combat discrimination. Despite this, only a third know their rights concerning discrimination or harassment.
In the report the six legally prohibited grounds of discrimination in the EU are examined:
1. Gender
2. Ethnic origin
3. Religion or beliefs
4. Age
5. Disability
6. Sexual orientation
The report proceeds with the following structure:
♦ Setting the context, including whether citizens think of themselves as belonging to a minority group and the diversity of citizens’ social circles;
♦ Perceptions of discrimination covering attitudes to different groups and the perceived extent of discrimination in Europe;
♦ Measurements of discrimination in Europe, whether directly experienced by citizens or witnessed as happening to a third person;
♦ An examination of media coverage of diversity;
♦ Assessments of efforts made to combat discrimination;
♦ Knowledge of one’s rights as a potential victim of discrimination;
♦ Views on equal opportunities in employment;
♦ A detailed analysis of discrimination on individual grounds;
♦ An examination of the effect of the economic crisis on the perceived extent of discrimination and on efforts to combat it.

The results by volumes are distributed as follows:

• Volume A: Countries
• Volume AA: Groups of countries
• Volume A' (AP): Trends
• Volume AA' (AAP): Trends of groups of countries
• Volume B: EU/socio-demographics
• Volume B' (BP) : Trends of EU/ socio-demographics
• Volume C: Country/socio-demographics

Researchers may also contact GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences: https://www.gesis.org/eurobarometer