2.12.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 303/23 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 27 November 2000 establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001 to 2006) (2000/750/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 13 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ('), After consulting the Economic and Social Committee (3), After consulting the Committee of the Regions (?), Whereas: 1) The European Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and funda- mental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles which are common to all Member States. In accordance with Atrticle 6(2) of the Treaty on European Union, the Union should respect fundamental rights as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and as derived from the shared constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of Community law. The European Parliament has strongly and repeatedly urged the European Union to develop and strengthen its policy in the field of equal treatment and equal oppor- tunities across all grounds of discrimination. The European Union rejects theories which attempt to determine the existence of separate human races. The use of the term ‘racial origin’ in this Decision does not imply an acceptance of such theories. (') Opinion delivered 5.10.2000 (Not yet published in the Official Journal). () O] C 204, 18.7.2000, p. 82. () O] C 226, 8.8.2000, p. 1. (4) () In the implementation of the programme, the Community will seek, in accordance with the Treaty, to eliminate inequalities and promote equality between men and women, particularly because women are often the victims of multiple discrimination. The different forms of discrimination cannot be ranked: all are equally intolerable. The programme is intended both to exchange existing good practice in the Member States and to develop new practice and policy for combating discrimination, including multiple discrim- ination. This Decision may help to put in place a comprehensive strategy for combating all forms of discrimination on different grounds, a strategy which should henceforward be developed in parallel. Experience of action at Community level, in particular in the field of gender, has shown that combating discrim- ination in practice calls for a combination of measures and in particular of legislation and of practical action designed to be mutually reinforcing. Similar lessons can be drawn from experience dealing with racial and ethnic origin and disability. The programme should deal with all grounds of discrim- ination with the exception of sex, which is dealt with by specific Community action. Discrimination on different grounds can have similar features and can be combated in similar ways. Experience built up over many years in combating discrimination on some grounds, including sex, can be used to the benefit of other grounds. However, the specific features of the diverse forms of discrimination should be accommodated. Therefore, the particular needs of people with disabilities should be taken into account in terms of the accessibility of activi- ties and results.