TRINIDAD and Tobago will join the global community in celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on December 3. This year's UN theme, "Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress," calls nations to address existing social inequalities by creating accessible spaces which enable all people to participate with dignity.

To read more visit:  Inclusion: Path to social progress - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

NOVEMBER IS often called Movember, a month dedicated to raising awareness about men’s health, especially mental health, suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer. It’s a time to remind ourselves that men’s well-being is not just a personal issue; it’s a social one that affects families, workplaces, and entire communities.

To read more visit: Men’s Mental Health Month: Equality conversation we need to have - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

`NOVEMBER 10 (today) is World Immunisation Day. This is not to be confused with World Immunisation Week which the World Health Organization observes on the last week of April every year. Both events have the same focus, which is to spread awareness about how vaccines prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Whichever is the correct day, it is useful to consider vaccinations in the broader context of discrimination. 

To read more visit: Immunisation and human rights - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Every few months our calendar reflects the beautiful diversity that defines us. We celebrate Divali, Christmas, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hosay, Emancipation Day, Phagwa, Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day, and Indian Arrival Day, among others. Each occasion brings its own rituals, colours, and meaning, but all share a common thread; they unite us as a people. In workplaces, schools, and communities we share in one another’s celebrations, tasting the food, exchanging greetings, and learning about traditions that may not be our own. That openness is what keeps the fabric of our nation strong.

To read more visit:Celebrating our diversity, strengthening our unity - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

EOC supports Jaipur Foot Centre in Trinidad and Tobago: Walking toward equality.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that TT will soon establish a Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb Fitment Centre is a powerful statement of equity, partnership, and inclusion. It reflects a deep understanding that equality is not achieved through words alone, but through action that restores independence and dignity to people whose lives have been disrupted by disability.

To read more visit: EOC supports Jaipur Foot Centre in Trinidad and Tobago: Walking toward equality - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

ON THE occasion of World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10, the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) of TT joins the global community in advocating for inclusive, equitable, and rights-based approaches to mental health.

People with disabilities, whether physical, sensory, intellectual, neurological, developmental or psychosocial are among the most marginalised populations in society and continue to face systemic and widespread discrimination.

To read more visit: Ending discrimination against people with disabilities in mental health - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

The Equal Opportunity Commission is proud to launch ECHO, our new quarterly magazine designed to keep you, our valued stakeholders, informed and engaged.

EACH year on September 8, the world celebrates International Literacy Day, a reminder that literacy is more than just reading and writing, it is a foundation for dignity, opportunity, and inclusion.

THE DECISION to wear one’s hair in a particular style is deeply personal, reflecting culture, heritage, religion and identity. For many, it is not just a matter of fashion, but an expression of who they are.

LAST MONTH, we took a moment to recognise a group that often goes unnoticed: public servants. Each year, June 23 is observed as United Nations Public Service Day, a date established by the UN General Assembly in 2002 to highlight the value and importance of public service in communities around the world.

FOR MANY people across TT, home is a place of comfort. But for those who live in so-called “hotspots,” their address alone can be a source of stigma and discrimination.

EACH YEAR on July 18 the world celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day, a global call to action that honours the life and legacy of one of history’s greatest champions of equality. The day is more than a tribute; it is a reminder that the responsibility to create positive change lies with each of us. In the words of Mandela himself: “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.”

To read more visit: https://newsday.co.tt/2025/07/28/mandelas-legacy-a-vision-of-equality/

The EOC continues to receive, investigate and conciliate matters of discrimination. As such, a person who believes that they have been subjected to discrimination in any of the above areas may lodge a complaint with the EOC.

To read more visit: https://newsday.co.tt/2025/06/30/what-eoc-does-and-why-it-matters/

JUNE IS Men’s Mental Health Month. That might not sound like headline news to some, but it should be. Every year, more and more men across the world are silently struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma and other mental health issues. Many don’t seek help. Some don’t even talk about it and far too many pay the ultimate price by dying young, dying alone, or dying by suicide.

To read more visit: https://newsday.co.tt/2025/06/16/mens-mental-health-why-it-matters-to-all-of-us/