The EOC is looking to commission three research projects, namely the “Study on Challenges, Effective Policies, and Best Practices of Ordinary Schools in Educating Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Hong Kong”, the “Study on Effective Strategies to Facilitate School-to-Work Transition of Young Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Hong Kong”, and the “Study on Perceptions of Stigmatisation and Discrimination of Persons with Mental Illness in the Workplace”. Interested parties are welcome to submit their proposals by 5pm, 3 July 2019 (Wednesday).
In its quest to foster an inclusive society, the EOC has always taken a data-driven approach to diagnosing trends of discrimination and identifying effective policy responses. The three planned studies represent the EOC’s latest effort to implement this evidence-based strategy. They aim, respectively, to nail down the challenges ordinary schools face in educating students with SEN and gather data on best practices in integrated education; to examine the barriers impeding young PWDs’ access to post-secondary education and employment; and to understand experiences of discrimination, harassment and stigmatisation among employed persons with mental illness.
Applications will be vetted in terms of the relevant organisation’s standing, its capacity to meet service requirements, awareness and knowledge of equal opportunity, and the proposed budget. For enquiries, please contact the EOC office at 2106 2255.
Download the study briefs
Learn more about the selection criteria
2
On 6 May 2019, the EOC co-organised the Roundtable on Reforming Sexuality Education in Hong Kong with the Lee Hysan Foundation. Drawing over 50 representatives from NGOs, school-sponsoring bodies, as well as secondary and primary schools, the event followed the release of the EOC’s report, “Break the Silence: Territory-Wide Study on Sexual Harassment of University Students in Hong Kong” earlier this year, which revealed that nearly one in four university students had experienced sexual harassment within the 12 months prior to the survey. The prevalence of the problem stems partly from gender stereotypes and misconceptions about consent that have taken root during adolescence, pointing to the urgent need for an overhaul of our sexuality education.
The roundtable began with opening remarks by Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin, Chairperson of the EOC and Ms Cecilia HO, President of the Lee Hysan Foundation. “Sexuality education is more than a matter of teaching personal health and public hygiene,” said Mr Chu. “Essentially, it should help students develop a sense of mutual respect and a genuine belief in gender equality, as they serve as the best check against sexual harassment. More should be done to improve sexuality education in Hong Kong towards that end.”
An eclectic line-up of panellists contributed to two discussion sessions, namely “How to Reform the Sexuality Education Curriculum of Hong Kong” and “How to Effectively Implement Comprehensive Sexuality Education”. The first session was moderated by Prof Susanne CHOI, Convenor of the EOC’s Working Group on Anti-Sexual Harassment Campaign, and featured Ms Mandy CHEUNG, Programme Director of AIDS Concern, Dr Diana KWOK, Assistant Professor at the Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Ms Grace LEE, Education Manager of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, Dr Angela NG, Vice-Chairperson of End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation, and Ms Linda WONG, Executive Director of Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women.
Speaking on the second panel were Ms Wendy FUNG, Senior Social Worker of Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, Ms LO Kin-ling, a moral and civic education teacher, Mr TO Kar-hing, Vice-Chairperson of Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, and Dr Hon Helena WONG, Legislative Council Member and Secretary of Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, while Mr CHONG Yiu-kwong, Deputy Convenor of the EOC’s Working Group on Anti-Sexual Harassment Campaign acted as the moderator.
Dr Ferrick CHU, Acting Chief Operations Officer of the EOC, was also present to share insights from the Commission’s recent study on sexual harassment at local universities, while Mr Charlie CHAN, Service Head of Youth and Community Service, Caritas pitched in with his experience in delivering sexuality education programmes in secondary schools. Currently, the Lee Hysan Foundation funds Caritas as well as Rainlily to help conduct a comprehensive sexuality programme and related training for teachers at more than 20 secondary schools.
The participants of the roundtable all agreed that a deeper awareness of gender equality should be promoted among all teaching staff, on top of teachers responsible for sexuality education. Providing incentives for teachers to receive relevant training was precisely one of the recommendations the EOC submitted to the Education Bureau in October last year. The submission aimed to make suggestions on how sexuality education in Hong Kong could be reformed to cultivate values of gender equality and positive attitudes towards intimacy among the younger generation. For details on the submission and the study released this year, please click the links below.
Read the EOC’s submission
More about “Break the Silence: Territory-Wide Study on Sexual Harassment of University Students in Hong Kong”
3
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), falling on 17 May annually, serves as a reminder of the prejudice people continue to face on everyday and institutional levels because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. Indeed, from alleged beatings and unlawful detentions of gay men in Chechnya to the recent transgender military ban in the US and the exclusion of same-sex couples from the rights of their heterosexual counterparts here in Hong Kong, LGBTI communities at home and abroad remain second-class citizens before the law.
On the 17th this month, Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin, EOC Chairperson will be attending two public events to commemorate the occasion. Jointly organised by the Association for Transgender Rights, Gay Harmony, Les Corner and Rainbow of Hong Kong, “Flag the Diversity - IDAHO+ (Hong Kong) 2019” will take place at Paterson Street, Causeway Bay from 2pm-9pm on 17 May (Friday). Mr Chu will deliver a speech at 3pm at the event, which features game booths and exhibitions designed to enhance understanding of the lesser-known identities under the LGBT+ umbrella.
At 7:15pm the same day, Mr Chu will show his support for IDAHOT with a keynote speech at another event, “An Evening of Solidarity”, hosted by Pink Alliance at Chater Garden, Chater Road, Central from 7pm-9pm. Carrying the theme of biphobia, the event aims to call out negative stereotypes and irrational fear of people who identify as or are perceived as bisexual. There will be experience-sharing sessions by advocates from the LGBTI movement, as well as singing and dance performances.
Drop by and learn to appreciate gender and sexual diversity!
Visit the Facebook page of “Flag the Diversity - IDAHO+ (Hong Kong) 2019”
Visit the Facebook page of “An Evening of Solidarity”
4
Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, the International Day of Families is observed annually on 15 May. It provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. One way to honour the occassion this year is to attend the Symposium on Family Wellbeing in a Changing Society on 17 May (Friday), organised by the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society to celebrate its 70th anniversary.
Sponsnored by the Lee Kum Kee Family Foundation and supported by the Family Council and The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the symposium will take place at Theatre 1 and Room S221-228, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. It encompasses a variety of topics, from the developemnt of family wellbeing indices in local and international contexts to professional practices in enhancing family wellbeing and the impact of information and communciation technologies (ICT) on family relationships.
Find out more about the programme and speaker line-up now with the links below.
Check out the programme and speaker list
Register for the symposium
