IMPLEMENTING EQUALITY

Niall Crowley

Agenda

• Social power implementing equality• State power implementing equality• The issue of diversity

EconomicPower

Social Power

State Power

THE ECONOMY: Allocation of resources and control of production and distribution

Socialist PathwaysSocial Democracy pathways Social Economy pathways

SOCIAL POWER IMPLEMENTING EQUALITY

EconomicPower

Social Power

State Power

THE ECONOMY: Allocation of resources and control of production and distribution

Socialist PathwaysSocial Democracy pathways Social Economy pathways

Social Power

• Would greater social power lead to more equality?

• What are the barriers to greater social power realising this ambition?

• What would be required to ensure greater social power leads to more equality?

Values

• Values are the beliefs or ideals that we hold to be important.

• Personal values guide our attitudes and behaviours. They motivate us and inform our choices

• Values guide the policies, procedures and practices of organisations. They inform the issues that organisations prioritise.

Values

• Values of equality and human rights do not have significant public or political traction

• Values can link equality & human rights.Dignity – respect and caring relationships.Autonomy – freedom, choice, and agency. Inclusion – building community and

accommodating diversity.Democracy – participation, voice and

accountability.Social justice – redistribution.

How Values Work

• Values are universal• Values can be temporarily engaged• When a particular value is temporarily

engaged it can strengthen neighbouring values and associated behaviours

• When a particular value is temporarily engaged opposing values and associated behaviours can be suppressed

How Values Change

• Repeated engagement of values over time is likely to strengthen them

• Our experience of various aspects of our society will strengthen particular values

• The experience of particular institutions and policies can shape perceptions of what is possible, normal, desirable

• Civil society can influence values

Engaging with Values

• Explore values – make our values visible, give meaning to values, bring values into practice

• Nurture intrinsic values – communication, how we organise, what we promote

• Challenge extrinsic values –advertising, media, education, institutions

• See the big picture – short term gain vs. long-term systemic change

• Work together – impact requires collaboration

Implications

• New ways of working for civil society–Overcome fragmentation and silos– Engage with people and their values–Communicating from a values perspective–Advocacy from a values perspective –

changing the values of institutions–Organising internally from a values

perspective

Key Source

• Common Cause• http://valuesandframes.org/• Public Interest Research Centre (PIRC)• http://publicinterest.org.uk/values/

STATE POWER IMPLEMENTING EQUALITY

EconomicPower

Social Power

State Power

THE ECONOMY: Allocation of resources and control of production and distribution

Socialist PathwaysSocial Democracy pathways Social Economy pathways

State Power

• Would greater state power lead to more equality?

• What are the barriers to greater state power realising this ambition?

• What would be required to ensure greater state power leads to more equality?

An Equality Infrastructure

• Legislation• Institutions – statutory and non-statutory• Policy mechanisms - mainstreaming• Plans – targeting

Legislation

• Employment Equality Act• Equal Status Act• Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

Act – new duty on the public sector• European Convention on Human Rights Act• Charter of Fundamental Rights• International human rights instruments

Legislation - Issues

• The ground of socio-economic status• Individual complainant model & need for a

comparator• Under-reporting• Equality of opportunity vs. Equality of

outcome• Positive action allowed

Legislation Issues

• Prioritising particular human rights instruments – civil and political vs. economic, social and cultural

• Respect, protect, AND fulfill human rights• Ratifying international instruments • Incorporating international instruments into

domestic law

Institutions

• Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission• Office of Children’s Ombudsman• Office of Ombudsman• Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence

and Equality & sub-committee on human rights• Department of Justice and Equality• Department of Foreign Affairs and Standing

Committee on Human Rights• Civil society

Institutions - Issues

• Ambition – Statutory bodies and social change• Scope – Combat Poverty Agency abolished• Effectiveness – Cutbacks, Resources, Powers• Independence – Accountability• Fragmentation of equality and human rights;

the danger and the challenge of integration• Dissent discouraged – Alignment, Service level

agreements, Tendering, Measure of success

Policy Mechanisms

• Positive duty to have regard to eliminating discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and protecting human rights

• Social impact assessment – National Anti-Poverty Strategy

• Gender mainstreaming – European Structural and Investment Funds

• Equality mainstreaming – Equality Authority pilot initiatives

Potential – Positive Duty

• Advance achievement of equality and fulfillment of human rights.

• Support evidence-based policy-making by public bodies.

• Secure quality, inclusive, accessible and accountable public services.

• Improve employee diversity in public bodies.• Drive cultural change within public bodies• Bring a wider perspective to policy-making,

employment procedures, and service provision.

Policy Mechanisms - Issues

• Implementation– Tick box exercise–Capacity–Cutback in supports

• Process vs. Impact• Enforcement – absence of sanction• New approach – Values based, Planned and

Systematic

Plans

• National Reform Programme @ Europe 2020• National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2009-

2017• National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016• National Action Plan against Racism 2005-

2008• National Disability Strategy 2004• Task Force on the Travelling Community, 1995

Plans - Issues

• Incorporating an equality and human rights dimension in National Reform Programme

• Mid-term review of Europe 2020• Implementation• Time frames• Gaps

Implications

• Protect, rebuild and enhance the infrastructure

• Secure implementation of legislation, policy mechanisms, and plans

• Comprehensive perspective that includes socio-economic status

• Integration of equality and human rights• Renewal of and innovation in plans

Key Source

• Equality and Rights Alliance• www.eracampaign.org

THE ISSUE OF DIVERSTIY

Diversity

• Economic equality for who?• Particular issues for specific groups?• Particular implications for specific groups?

Discrimination

• Discrimination constructed around difference• Individual discrimination– Less favourable treatment– Individual attitudes and behaviours

• Institutional discrimination– Policy, procedure, practice– Less favourable impact

• Internalised– Accept and live out stereotypes

Diversity

• Difference– Identity – the values, beliefs and aspirations

shared by the group– Experience – the relationships between the group

and wider society– Situation – the status of the group in terms of

resources• Difference has practical implications

Diversity - Issues

• We don’t deal well with difference in Ireladn • Open to all; Treat everyone the same;

Neutrality• Stereotyping, assimilation, segregation• Tolerance• Fragmentation of grounds vs. Intersectionality• Socio economic status vs. identity

Particular issues

• Women – Gender Pay Gap @ 14.4% in 2013– Unpaid work

• Lone Parents– Level of poverty @ 63.2% deprivation rate– Childcare @ expensive and inadequate

• Migrants– Legal status– Recognition of qualifications

Particular Issues

• Travellers– Unemployment @ 84.3% in 2011– Cultural difference and the Traveller economy

• Trans people– Stigma– Recognition in the gender with which they identify

• People with Disability– Cost of disability @ 207 Euro per week, 35.4% of

disposable income– Unemployment @ 22% in 2013

Particular Issues

• Older people– Ageism– Dependency– Pension

• Young people– Ageism– Dependency– Welfare payment

Implications

• Move from tolerating difference to celebrating difference

• Making reasonable accommodation• Focus on groups at the intersections• Research and analysis, organisation and

mobilisation, policy and programmes, employment and service provision