Transcript What is Equality Mainstreaming

Equality Authority
Input to Congress Seminar on funding for education and
training
Carole Sullivan
Head of the Equality Mainstreaming Unit, Equality Authority
6th April 2011
Content




Equality Infrastructure
Equality legislation
Work of the Equality Authority
Supports
Equality Legislation



Equal Status Acts 2000-2008
Employment Equality Acts 1998-2008
Based on:




Individual enforcement model
No requirement to be proactive
Retrospective fault finding
Nine grounds: gender, family status, martial
status, sexual orientation, religion, age,
disability, race, Traveller community
Equality Legislation





Equality legislation – framework for promoting equality
Employment and equal status legislation prohibit discrimination,
harassment and sexual harassment and victimisation
Require reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities
Sets a valuable minimum standard of non-discrimination for all
organisations
Positive action allowed:


To promote equality of opportunity for disadvantaged persons
To cater for special needs of a person or category of persons
Employment Equality Acts 1998-2008

Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2008
promote equality and prohibit discrimination
in employment across the 9 equality grounds.

They cover: advertising, pay, access to
employment, vocational training, terms and
conditions of employment, promotion or
regrading, classification of posts, dismissal,
collective agreements.
Equal Status Acts 2000-2008

Prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods and
services, accommodation and education

Acts apply to people who:




Buy and sell goods;
Use or provide services;
Obtain or dispose of accommodation;
Attend or are in charge of educational establishments.
Note:
 Discrimination claims re: licensed premises are dealt with in
the District Court – Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003
Equality Infrastructure

Two institutions


Equality Authority
Equality Tribunal






Hears cases, gives judgements
Investigative role
Mediation function
Does not seek costs against either party
Investigations are private
Individuals can be represented by community groups,
trade unions, trade associations, Equality Authority
Equality Authority Role
Equality Authority functions:
•
Promote equality of opportunity;
Combat discrimination;
•
Provide information on the Acts;
•
Monitor and keep Acts under review;
•
Make recommendations to the Minister for
change.
•
Equality Authority Role
Equality Authority powers:
 Promote equality of opportunity




Provision of information -campaigns
Development Initiatives – equality mainstreaming
Research
and combat discrimination:

Prepare codes of practice;
e.g. Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work


Equality reviews;
Inquiries.
Equality mainstreaming





Systematic integration of an equality perspective into everyday
work
Involves government departments, programme providers,
equality specialists and groups experiencing inequality
Aims to change organisational cultures so that an equality
perspective becomes an integral part of what we plan and
provide
Long term strategy- aims to make sure that policy and provision
can accommodate diversity across the nine grounds
Leads to improved policy making through better information,
better transparency and openness in the policy making process
Mainstreaming equality requires






Leadership and political commitment
Commitment and ownership across an
organisation
Participation of groups experiencing
inequality
Guidance, training and support
Data, information and research
Equality competence
Equality Competence
Equality competent organisations are those with
structures, policies, practices and procedures into
which equality is embedded as a matter of course.
Four ingredients which must be in place for the
organisation to be equality competent:
 Equality policies
 Equality action plan including training
 Equality committee
 Equality reviews/ impact assessments
Equality Authority/EMU supports





Trade Union and Employer Networks
Projects to support equality mainstreaming
approaches
Sectoral project approaches – hospitality,
mushroom growers, financial sector
SME Grant Scheme
Workplace diversity funding
Capacity building/ training seminars
Publications/Guides





Guidelines for conducting equality impact
assessments on IVEA and VEC plans, policies and
programmes
Equality Screening Guidelines
Equality Proofing template for City and County
Development Boards
Guidelines on the development of equality policies,
equal status policies and equality and diversity
training in the workplace
www.equality.ie