What is Equality Mainstreaming Carole Sullivan Head of the Equality Mainstreaming Unit, Equality Authority VEC Seminar, 28th May 2010

Content Equality Mainstreaming Unit What is Equality Mainstreaming What it requires Some supports

Equality Mainstreaming Unit Co-funded by the European Social Fund through the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013 Aim - to facilitate and support institutional change within providers of vocational education and training, labour market programmes small and medium enterprises by strengthening their capacity to combat discrimination, to promote equality and to accommodate diversity.

How do we work? Work with:- Providers of vocational education, training and labour market programmes develop ‘support packages’ Small to medium enterprises Grant Scheme Sectoral Approaches to workplace equality

Structures Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013 Managing Authority (Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) EMU Advisory Committee Equal Opps at the Level of the Enterprise Framework Committee Unit based at the Equality Authority

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 - why do it Structural Fund and European Social Fund ESF) Regulations Article 10 of the Lisbon Treaty Equality legislation – supports compliance with EU Directives

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 Nine grounds - gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion and membership of the Traveller community – baseline of groups currently experiencing inequality Sets a valuable minimum standard of non-discrimination for all organisations

Mainstreaming equality - why do it (cont) Increases participation of disadvantaged groups Tackles structures, behaviours and attitudes that sustain inequality and discrimination Prevents policies and programmes being implemented that continue existing inequalities Complements positive action measures Business case for equality Equality/ non-discrimination mainstreaming emphasised by the EU

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

EMU supports IVEA/ EA Equality Impact Assessment Guidelines Learning from 3 pilot projects Capacity building/ training seminars Future development of ‘support packages’