The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today announces its public consultation on the Revised Code of Practice on Employment under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO). The EOC will organize four public consultation meetings in different districts during the three-month consultation period until 8 July 2010. All are welcome to attend the meetings to express their views. Accessible transport arrangement, sign language, Braille print/audio version of the Code, language interpretation and other special arrangement will be made upon request.
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In an article published in the South China Morning Post on 30 March 2010, EOC Chairperson LAM Woon-kwong outlines his vision for the EOC as a defender and advocate of human rights and equal opportunities:
“I have met more than 60 community groups since I assumed office in February 2010, and I reiterated to them that the EOC takes its responsibility seriously. We will not condone discrimination … Every day, the EOC continues to see or hear about instances of discrimination. People are refused jobs, services or housing … In addition to our mechanisms of conciliation, legal assistance and educational campaigns, every effort will be made to include equal opportunity perspectives in the policymaking process, and in all policy areas, as systemic change can only occur when these issues are entrenched in the mainstream of public thought.”
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The EOC’s Community Participation Funding Programme (2010/11) is now open for application. The maximum funding limit for each community project is $50,000. The EOC has supported over 700 non-governmental organizations and schools in the past to carry out projects that promote public understanding of equal opportunities and the anti-discrimination laws. Application deadlines: 14 May 2010 (1st batch) and 31 July 2010 (2nd batch).