Have you seen the “We are the Superhumans” video, produced by the UK’s Channel 4 for the Rio Paralympics? After watching the inspiring video, EOC Chairperson Prof. Alfred Chan wrote two articles in the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and Mingpao Daily respectively, in which he points out the lack of adequate support for people with disabilities to partake in sport in Hong Kong and urges the able-bodied to be more thoughtful about the needs of people with disabilities. The articles were released just in time to stimulate reflection and discussion as the Rio Paralympic Games opened on 7 September 2016.
     
A few days before, Prof. Chan wrote another article in the SCMP about the difficulties faced by transgender people in everyday life, such as in using public bathrooms and changing rooms which are often unisex. He urged for the provision of more accessible, universal facilities for transgender people and others in need, including parents accompanying their young children and carers of the elderly, and for comprehensive legal protection of the rights of the transgender community. He also called for greater understanding of the needs of transgender people and other disadvantaged groups, so that they can use public facilities without the fear of discrimination.
 
The articles published in the newspapers can be found on the EOC website under “Position Statements”, while the original full-length article on sports for people with disabilities is available in Prof. Chan’s new blog, The Chairperson’s Perspectives.

Take a look at “The Chairperson’s Perspectives”
Read the published articles in “Position Statements”

The Mid-Autumn Festival signals not only a cooler weather but also the arrival of the autumn issue of the EOC Journal, a bi-yearly publication. This issue highlights the results of a few of our recent studies, including the Discrimination Law Review and the latest Equal Opportunities Awareness Survey, and important topics like educational opportunities for ethnic minorities under the new free kindergarten education policy and sex discrimination in small and medium-sized enterprises. You can read the e-copy on our website or contact us to request a hard copy.

Read the 2016 autumn issue of the EOC Journal

The 2015/16 edition of the Jockey Club Equal Opportunities Drama Project concluded with the project’s first Youth Drama Showcase, Those Were the Days, staged from 2 to 4 September, and the Youth Drama Ambassador Award Ceremony on 4 September, which EOC Chairperson Prof. Alfred Chan attended.
 
Those who missed the chance to take part in the project last year need not despair – the 2016/17 programme will begin soon, starting with the school drama competition. As the supporting organisation of the project, the EOC will organise a workshop on 22 October to equip the participating students and teachers with concepts of equal opportunities, which they can incorporate into their plays. For updates, please visit the website of Prospects Theatre, the project’s organiser.

 Learn more about the Jockey Club Equal Opportunities Drama Project (in Chinese only)

The November courses of the Capacity Building Mileage Programme are now open for enrolment. Launched in 2004, the programme is run by the Women’s Commission, The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) and Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited, with the aim of empowering women by enhancing their skills in different areas. The new courses cover a wide range of topics, from interpersonal communication to financial management and computer usage. Interested parties can visit the OUHK website for course details, enrolment methods and other information.

Learn more about the Capacity Building Mileage Programme (in Chinese only)
Other community events supported by the EOC