On 22 November 2012, the EOC announced the findings of the “Study on Equal Learning Opportunities for Students with Disabilities under the Integrated Education System”. The Study found that the resources, training and support for integrated education remain limited. The EOC made a number of recommendations towards addressing problems in the local IE system and policies, including early identification of students with SEN, increasing resources and manpower, promoting understanding on the IE policy, and adopting the anti-bullying policy in schools. The Study was conducted by the Centre for Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education of the Hong Kong Institute of Education from September 2010 to November 2011. The Study aims at understanding the general attitudes of the stakeholders such as educators, students with special educational needs (SEN), and parents towards the Integrated Education (IE) Policy and soliciting their opinion on how to implement the IE Policy more effectively.

Read the press release
The Code of Practice on Education under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance
The EOC’s Disability & Education Series
Radio interview (Cantonese)

Too often, people with disabilities still face significant barriers in accessing equal opportunities. This stems, in part, from lingering stereotypes and prejudices. In light of the upcoming International Day for Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, with the theme “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all,” the EOC calls upon the public to do their part to ensure that people with disability have equal rights and access to participate in society.

In his regular contribution to the column “On Second Thought” in the South China Morning Post on 12 November 2012 entitled “Stargazers' camp puts blindness in a new light,” the EOC Chairperson, Mr. LAM Woon-kwong, pointed out that our society needs to see people with disabilities as a potential resource. “We would be tapping another pool of talent if we make available to them fair opportunities for training and jobs,” wrote Mr. Lam. He urged the government to take the lead in hiring people with disabilities in addition to removing barriers to employment, education and key services such as public transport.

To facilitate workplace action on this issue, the EOC is organising calendar training on topics such as “Access for All” (5 December 2012), targeted at managers, human resource professionals, and other interested stakeholders. Also, do tune in to our RTHK Radio 2 programme, “Equal Opportunities Diversity Project (平等機會多元共融行動)” (FM 94.8-96.9), on 29 November and 6 December 2012 from 2:05 to 2:30 pm, to listen to our guests discuss disability-related issues on the show.

Read the full SCMP article
Details on upcoming EOC Calendar Training
Listen to previous episodes of “Equal Opportunities Diversity Project” (in Cantonese only)

On 23 November 2012, the EOC issued legal proceedings under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, Cap. 480 in the District Court, on behalf of a woman who, after submitting her pregnancy notice to her employer, was told that the commencement date of her new contract would be amended to include a one day break from the old contract’s end date. The Plaintiff alleged that the insertion of the one day break was done to avoid statutory maternity leave pay, and was therefore a deliberate act of pregnancy discrimination by her employer. Pregnancy discrimination remains common in Hong Kong, particularly in the workplace. By giving legal assistance in this case, the EOC hopes to raise public awareness on the protection given to pregnant women under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, and to remind employers that pregnancy discrimination is unlawful.

Read the press release
Know Your Rights: Pregnancy Discrimination

“Without love, even the best medicine can’t solve anything,” shared Joey, a person who has been living with HIV for 22 years. Joey is featured on “Positive Lives (與愛同行)”, a new Announcement of Public Interest (API) produced by the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation with the support of the EOC to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS-related stigmatisation and discrimination. On the occasion of World AIDS Day, which falls on 1 December of every year, the EOC appeals to the community to dispel myths about HIV/AIDS and shed its discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, the Society for AIDS Care will organise a “Red Day” on 1 December 2012 in order to promote wider public awareness of AIDS, eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and encourage a positive attitude. Members of the public are encouraged to dress in red on World AIDS Day to express their support.

View the API “Positive Lives”
More details on “Red Day”
Read the report on the previous EO Club sharing session on preventing HIV/AIDS discrimination at work

Many may not be aware of how to seek help when faced with sexual harassment. For ethnic minorities, this difficulty may be compounded by language and cultural barriers. In order to support community workers who provide services to ethnic minorities in Hong Kong to help a person who has experienced sexual harassment, and in support of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women which falls annually on 25 November, the EOC organised a tailor-made workshop on this topic on 12 November 2012. The workshop was held in collaboration with RainLily, Hong Kong's first one-stop crisis centre for the protection of victims of sexual violence. The workshop explained the provisions on sexual harassment under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, the EOC’s complaint handling procedure, and a sharing from RainLily on dealing with indecent assault cases.

More information on sexual harassment and your rights

The EOC’s MTRC escalator advertisement campaign has been launched throughout the Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Tung Chung and Tseung Kwan O lines of the MTR network from 16 to 29 November 2012. Three poster advertisements featuring cartoons on preventing sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination as well as promoting family-friendly employment policies have been placed along the escalators in different MTR stations. MTR passengers can gain an insight into the experience of discrimination and see our vision of equal opportunities as they use the public transport.

In addition, another ten escalator advertisements to promote the messages of racial equality, access for all, preventing sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination, and promoting family-friendly employment policies were displayed from 16 to 29 November 2012 at Exit E of the Tai Koo MTR station, which leads to the EOC office.

Many ethnic minority students still struggle to gain qualifications in the Chinese language, which create obstacles in their prospects for further studies and job opportunities. To address the issue, Christian Action and the University of Hong Kong are jointly launching a 150-hour course to prepare students to sit for the GCSE Chinese examination in May 2013. GCSE Chinese grades are accepted in civil service recruitments as comparable to the Chinese language qualification from the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination and The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE). Please contact Christian Action at 3188 4555 for more details.

Dates:	Level 1: 28 November 2012 – 26 January 2013 Level 2: 2 February 2013 – 17 April 2013 Level 3: 27 March 2013 – 21 May 2013
Time:	Wednesday, 7-9:30pm & Saturday, 2-5:30pm
Venue:	Christian Action Mongkok Training Centre 3/F Wofoo Commercial Building, 574-576 Nathan Road, Kowloon
Fees:	HK$100 per level (non-refundable)