5. Calls on the Council to respect its commitments in relation to fundamental rights, to unblock as a matter of urgency the Commission proposal of 2 July 2008 for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of gender, religion, culture, language, education, disability, age or sexual orientation; emphasises in this context the rights of the most vulnerable groups of people, meaning , children, in particular for the protection of their personal integrity and in the context of cross- ...[+++]border custody disputes and parental visiting rights, people with disabilities as well as the elderly and ethnic minorities;

A. whereas a green economy is defined as a sustainable economy, which means social and ecological sustainability; whereas social sustainability involves a social order permeated by gender and social equality regardless of gender, ethnicity, colour, religion, sexual orientation, disability or political opinion;

A. whereas a green economy is defined as a sustainable economy, which means social and ecological sustainability; whereas social sustainability involves a social order permeated by gender and social equality regardless of gender, ethnicity, colour, religion, sexual orientation, disability or political opinion;

4. Reiterates that higher education has the potential to promote social inclusion, social advancement and upward social mobility; calls, with respect for the principle of subsidiarity, on Member States, regional and local governments and higher education institutions to strengthen – inter alia through the development of adequate financial support schemes – their efforts to widen equitable access to studies for all, from early childhood to higher education, irrespective of sex, ethnicity, language, religion, disability or social background, and to fight all forms of discrimination, recognising multiculturalism and multilingualism, includ ...[+++]ing sign languages, as fundamental values of the EU that need to be fostered;

4. Reiterates that higher education has the potential to promote social inclusion, social advancement and upward social mobility; calls, with respect for the principle of subsidiarity, on Member States, regional and local governments and higher education institutions to strengthen – inter alia through the development of adequate financial support schemes – their efforts to widen equitable access to studies for all, from early childhood to higher education, irrespective of sex, ethnicity, language, religion, disability or social background, and to fight all forms of discrimination, recognising multiculturalism and multilingualism, includ ...[+++]ing sign languages, as fundamental values of the EU that need to be fostered;

directed at people in distress, regardless of nationality, religion, gender, age, ethnic origin or political affiliation.