Promoting Equity: Breaking Barriers to Diversity, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination
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Promoting Equity: Breaking Barriers to Diversity, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination
20–24 October 2025
The course is available in English
Introduction to the course
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has long championed non-discrimination and equal opportunities, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 10 (reducing inequalities) and the Leaving No One Behind (LNOB) principle. Rooted in the Philadelphia Declaration (1944), these principles affirm everyone’s right to well-being, dignity, and economic security, regardless of race, creed, or sex.
Globalization, Covid-19, and socio-economic challenges have amplified the demand for diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination - not just for social cohesion and human rights but also for economic sustainability. Achieving this requires effectively managing diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and experiences while addressing biases and intersectional discrimination related to gender, race, disability, and other factors.
This training equips leaders in public and private organizations to foster fairness and equality by embedding non-discriminatory practices into their organizational culture. Participants will explore key ILO conventions, particularly C111, and develop strategies to prevent intersectional discrimination and create inclusive workplaces at individual, team, and organizational levels.
Who attends this course?
This training is for professionals at all levels involved in fostering non-discrimination and inclusion in their organizations. It is ideal for HR professionals, managers, executives, policymakers, diversity officers, and employee resource group leaders across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including trade unions, employers' organizations, and international institutions. Whether participants are new to these concepts or seeking to deepen their expertise, the course provides practical tools to promote fairness, mitigate bias, and build inclusive workplaces.
Course structure
This course takes a holistic approach to non-discrimination by addressing it at the individual, team, and organizational levels. It combines personal awareness, leadership development, and structural changes to foster equitable and inclusive workplaces.
Detailed schedule
Day 1: Understanding Non-Discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Introduction to Non-Discrimination Principles – Overview of legal and ethical frameworks, including ILO Convention 111.
- Types of Discrimination – Exploration of direct, indirect, and systemic discrimination through real-world case studies.
- Intersectionality in the Workplace – Understanding how overlapping identities (e.g., gender, race, disability) impact workplace experiences.
- Fundamentals of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) – The benefits of inclusive workplaces for employee well-being, innovation, and productivity.
Day 2: Becoming an Inclusive Leader
- Understanding Inclusive Leadership – Assessing leadership styles and learning how to adapt them for greater inclusion.
- Empathy & Emotional Intelligence – How these skills enhance leadership and support diverse teams.
- Unconscious Bias & Microaggressions – Identifying biases in decision-making and developing strategies to mitigate them.
- Addressing Microaggressions in the Workplace – Techniques for responding to and preventing microaggressions effectively.
Day 3: Managing Diverse Teams
- Building Trust & Belonging – Strategies to foster a sense of inclusion within teams.
- Impact of Intersectionality on Team Dynamics – How different identities affect collaboration and communication.
- Conflict Resolution in Multicultural Teams – Understanding diverse conflict styles and approaches to resolution.
- Inclusive Communication Skills – Recognizing the impact of non-inclusive language and practicing active listening through role-play exercises.
Day 4: Implementing D&I Initiatives
- Inclusive Hiring Practices – Crafting bias-free job descriptions, expanding outreach, and conducting equitable interviews.
- Developing & Retaining Diverse Talent – Implementing mentorship programs, equitable performance reviews, and workplace policies.
- Addressing Intersectional Discrimination – Strategies to recognize and eliminate structural barriers in the workplace.
- Long-Term Inclusion Strategies – How to create sustainable and meaningful D&I initiatives within an organization.
Day 5: Sustaining D&I Initiatives
- Developing a D&I Strategy – Key steps for assessment, goal setting, and action planning.
- Promoting D&I Across the Organization – Effective communication techniques to engage employees and leadership.
- Measuring & Reporting D&I Progress – Identifying key metrics, tracking methods, and best practices for reporting impact.
- Action Plan Presentations & Next Steps – Participants present their D&I strategies and discuss implementation challenges and solutions.
Why should I join?
By joining this training, participants will:
- Gain insights from global best practices and case studies on fostering inclusive workplaces.
- Engage in technical sessions led by highly qualified experts on key diversity, equity, and inclusion topics.
- Participate in interactive exercises and simulations, focusing on inclusive leadership, bias mitigation, and effective communication.
- Join a global network of professionals, exchanging knowledge, experiences, and innovative approaches to workplace inclusion.
