Dr Shreya Atrey's study on intersectional discrimination adopted by Council of Europe

The Council of Europe Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) has unanimously adopted a 100-page study on intersectional discrimination drafted by the Faculty of Law's Dr Shreya Atrey.

The study, commissioned by the Council of Europe in 2024, is titled 'Preventing and Combating Intersectional Discrimination in Europe: A Model for Change'. It was adopted at the Council's 12th Plenary Session on 18 November 2025 in Strasbourg, France. 

Based on a comparative review of current practice in the 46 member states of the Council of Europe, the study maps the diversity of approaches in engaging with intersectionality (the idea that people suffer discrimination because of their membership of two or more disadvantaged groups) and recommends a path forward for harmonising this diversity into a cohesive and concerted response against intersectional discrimination. 

The study has paved the way for the drafting of a Council of Ministers Recommendation for addressing intersectional discrimination. This will be the first formal instrument of its kind, exclusively dedicated to addressing intersectional discrimination in law, policy and practice in Europe.

CDADI and its expert committees are composed of members (representatives of the 46 Council of Europe member states), participants (representatives of other Council of Europe bodies, observer states and other international organisations), and observers (including civil society organisations). The Council of Europe is an international organisation with the goal of upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.