Members of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) met on 20 December 2012 (Thursday) at the 99th EOC Meeting and discussed various matters related to the Commission’s business. 
   
The Commission reviewed the complaint statistics from January to November 2012. The number of sexual harassment complaints had increased drastically in the first eleven months this year, from 63 in the same period last year to 111 this year. On the other hand, 92 pregnancy discrimination complaints were received up until November 2012, when 118 cases were received over the same period in 2011.

Members also noted that the complaints received under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO) decreased to 454, compared to 476 in the same period of last year. Under the Race Discrimination Ordinance (RDO), up until November this year, 52 complaints were received, while 64 cases were received over the same period in 2011. Family Status Discrimination Ordinance (FSDO) complaints totaled 19 cases so far this year.

In an effort to enhance public awareness on the prevention of sexual harassment, a special Working Group (WG) under the EOC’s Policy and Research Committee (PARC) will be set up to start an anti-sexual harassment campaign, including the conduct of public education programmes in universities and the business sector.

The Commission also reviewed the first EOC Public Forum held in September this year, whereby the EOC Board highlighted the Commission’s past performance and introduced new directions and initiatives to the public. Members noted that the comments and feedback received on the Forum were generally positive and the intended purposes of promoting transparency and accountability had been achieved. The participants were generally in favour of having similar events in the future for enhancing communication.
     
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Media enquiries: Ms. Mariana LAW (Tel : 2106-2226)

Equal Opportunities Commission
20 December 2012