In the context of its effort to increase economic, territorial and social cohesion, the Union should, at all stages of implementation of the ESI Funds, aim at eliminating inequalities and at promoting equality between men and women and integrating the gender perspective, as well as at combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), Article 10 TFEU and Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, taking into account in particular accessibility for persons with disabilities, as well as Article 5(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights stating that no one is to be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
I gcomhthéacs a iarrachta comhtháthú eacnamaíoch, críochach agus sóisialta a mhéadú, ba cheart don Aontas, ag gach céim de chur chun feidhme Chistí SIE, díriú ar neamh-chomhionannais a dhíothú agus ar chomhionannas idir fir agus mná a chur chun cinn agus gné na hinscne a chomhtháthú, chomh maith le hidirdhealú bunaithe ar ghnéas, ar thionscnamh ciníoch nó eitneach, ar reiligiún nó ar chreideamh, ar mhíchumas, ar aois nó ar threoshuíomh gnéasach a chomhrac, faoi mar a leagtar amach in Airteagal 2 den Chonradh ar an Aontas Eorpach (CAE), in Airteagal 10 CFAE agus in Airteagal 21 den Chairt um Chearta Bunúsacha an Aontais Eorpaigh, agus inrochtaineacht do dhaoine atá faoi míchumas go háirithe á cur i gcuntas, mar aon le hAirteagal 5(2) den Chairt um Chearta Bunúsacha lena bhforáiltear nach ndéanfar iallach a chur ar aon duine saothar éignithe nó éigeantach a dhéanamh.