Europese anti-discriminatie Truck Tour 2004 - Vraag en Antwoord (en)
1 September will see the launch of the European Truck Tour, informing people about the new EU-wide anti-discrimination laws and explaining their new rights and duties. The Truck will visit 10 countries in 10 weeks.
The launch will take place at 13.00 on 1 September, at the esplanade in the Parc Cinquantenaire. Odile Quintin, Director General for Employment and Social Affairs at the European Commission and Christian Dupont, Belgian Minister for Equality, will start the truck off on its journey to visit 19 European cities over a three month period. They will be joined by Eliane Deproost, Deputy Director of the Belgian Centre for Equal Opportunities and Tony Vanderlinden, Head of Personnel at Colruyt, a Belgian company that has implemented successful diversity and anti-discrimination policies in the workplace.
Q: What is the reason for the Truck Tour?
A: Surveys indicate that many people still believe that a person's ethnic origin, religion, disability, or age can be an obstacle in finding a job. As a mobile "information platform", the truck can take information on the new EU anti-discrimination laws directly to the different countries. Discrimination and the laws against it are of direct concern to everybody.
Q: What is the main message of the tour?
A: Discrimination on the grounds of religion and belief, disability, age and sexual orientation and ethnic origin is prohibited by law. But the message is also that diversity is positive, embracing the variety of European society.
Q: Why does the tour start in September?
A: September is the official start of work after the summer break in many European countries. The anti-discrimination legislation and "For diversity. Against discrimination" information campaign focus on the world of employment. Starting in September allows us to reach the people most affected - employers and employees.
Q: Who will attend the truck events?
A: The programme at each stop is developed individually in close co-operation with NGOs (non-governmental organisations), employers and employees associations and other interested parties. Therefore many of these organisations will be represented on the truck. Local and national politicians and celebrities who represent diversity will attend. There will also be the "Truck Staff" of three to four people to ensure that visitors receive all information they require. And last but not least the crash test dummies - the key motif of the anti-discrimination campaign - will show what the world would look like without diversity.
Q: What can visitors expect to see on the truck?
A: The programme differs from stop to stop. There will be an entertainment program: visitors can for example test their knowledge in a Europe-Quiz. To reflect the specific national character of each country the truck stops in, local and national music bands, choirs and dance performances are also on the agenda. There is an extensive information programme such as films about discrimination issues and information terminals presenting the "For diversity. Against discrimination" campaign. Blind people can access and interact on the website through a Braille board. Visitors can read material more comfortably in the truck's "Lounge". There is also a helpdesk and a room for one-to-one interviews.
Q: How many times will the truck stop?
A: In the 10 weeks the truck will be on the road, it will visit 10 countries - Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Denmark, UK, Ireland, France and Italy. The truck stops twice in each country, usually one stop in the capital and one additional stop in a smaller town.
The exact dates are:
Hungary: 07.09.04 Budapest (City Shopping and Business Center)/ 09.09.04 Gy?r (Industrial Center)
Slovakia: 11.09.04 Bratislava (shopping park AUPARK)/ 14.09.04 Zilina (shopping centre TESCO)
Czech Republic: 17.09.04 Prague (shopping area And?l -Praha - Smíchov)/ 21.09.04 Ostrava
Poland: 23.09.04 Krakow/ 26.09.04 Warsaw
Latvia: 30.09.04 Riga
Denmark: 08.10.04 Copenhagen/ 10.10.04 Arhus
UK: London 13.10.04
Ireland: Cork 16.10.04/ Dublin 18.10.04
France: 25.10.04-28.10.04
Italy: 01.11.04-05.11.04
More details on the truck tour are available in IP/04/1053
For more information on the legislation, and the Community Action Programme to Combat Discrimination please see:
www.stop-discrimination.info
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http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamental_rights/index_en.htm