Equal opportunities

Equal opportunities means that all people, regardless of individual characteristics such as gender, background, social status, age, religion or disability, have the same opportunities to develop their abilities, pursue educational pathways and participate in society. This is not about guaranteeing the same outcomes, but rather about the fair distribution of opportunities for access and development, as well as equal opportunities in education, employment, cultural participation and political involvement. Equal opportunities are closely linked to the principles of justice, participation and inclusion.

Equal opportunities are enshrined in law, amongst other places, in the Basic Law (Article 3 of the Basic Law), which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability, and in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), which calls for equal opportunities and rights for people with disabilities.