The Equality Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, highlights a shift in public policy away from individual equality strands towards an all encompassing approach to equality.
Benefits cited for this move include streamlining responsibilities for equality with a new Public Sector Duty and providing an opportunity to tackle multiple discrimination. However, Voice4Change England’s research has also shown strong concern amongst BME third sector organisations that race equality is being diluted by the single equalities agenda and that equalities are being treated homogenously, without recognition of the specific issues and concerns facing different equalities strands.
The Bill is due to be published in 2009 but it is already having an effect, for example in anticipation of the Bill Capacitybuilders are consulting on a draft Single Equality Scheme. BME and other equalities third sector organisations will need to think carefully about the best strategies to ensure that their voices are heard within this framework.
Jemma
Third Sector ForesightThe Equality Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, highlights a shift in public policy away from individual equality strands towards an all encompassing approach to equality.
Benefits cited for this move include streamlining responsibilities for equality with a new Public Sector Duty and providing an opportunity to tackle multiple discrimination. However, Voice4Change England’s research has also shown strong concern amongst BME third sector organisations that race equality is being diluted by the single equalities agenda and that equalities are being treated homogenously, without recognition of the specific issues and concerns facing different equalities strands.
The Bill is due to be published in 2009 but it is already having an effect, for example in anticipation of the Bill Capacitybuilders are consulting on a draft Single Equality Scheme. BME and other equalities third sector organisations will need to think carefully about the best strategies to ensure that their voices are heard within this framework.