Anti-Racist Workplace Week

Anti-racist workplace week is a social partnership initiative organised by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Equality Authority Equality in Ireland and key social partners North and South. This initiative aims to help workplaces to achieve full equality in practice through the development of effective policies, practices and procedures.

The partner organisations involved in Anti-Racist Workplace Week seek to stimulate and support workplaces to:

• Be free from discrimination and harassment;
• Be welcoming to Black and minority ethnic (including Traveller and migrant worker) employees and customers / service users;
• Accommodate, make adjustments for and value cultural and linguistic diversity among employees and customers alongside a wider accommodation of diversity including making reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities;
• Take practical steps to achieve full equality in practice;
• Communicate a message promoting greater equality for Black and minority ethnic people within the wider community.

The initiative reflects key aspects of the Governments Race Equality Strategy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations for Northern Ireland, a Shared Future. The Governments Racial Equality Strategy establishes a framework to tackle racial inequalities in Northern Ireland and to open up opportunity for all, to eradicate racism and hate crime and together with a shared future, to indicate actions to promote good race relations.

This includes a focus on employment and the workplace. Anti-Racist Workplace Week supports the aims of this strategy.

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, together with key social partners, is contributing to developments in this area by developing and implementing practical workplace strategies aimed at accommodating and valuing diversity in Northern Ireland.

EU Year of Equal Opportunities For All 2007

Anti-Racist Workplace Week 2007 is supported by the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All initiative. The key themes for the year include Rights, Representation, Recognition and Respect which are essential elements in developing and consolidating integrated workplaces.

The Year aims to:

• make people more aware of their rights to enjoy equal treatment and a life free of discrimination – irrespective of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief including political opinion, disability, age and sexual orientation
• promote equal opportunities for all
• launch a major debate on the benefits of diversity both for European societies and individuals

Activities during the Year will be organised around four key objectives: rights, representation, recognition and respect:

• Rights – Raising awareness on the right to equality and non-discrimination and on the problem of multiple discrimination
• Representation – Stimulating debate on ways to increase the participation of groups in society which are victims of discrimination and a balanced participation of men and women
• Recognition – facilitating and celebrating diversity and equality
• Respect – Promoting a more cohesive society

Consolidating the Integrated Workplace: A Theme for 2007

The integrated workplace requires:

• Action to support Black and minority ethnic (including Traveller) employees, in particular migrant workers, to adapt to the workplace and to engage effectively with the local community;
• Action to support all employees to develop the skills, knowledge and awareness to perform and engage effectively in culturally diverse workplaces;
• Action to develop workplace policies, procedures and practices that take account of cultural and linguistic diversity, promote full equality in practice and create a welcoming environment for Black and minority ethnic (including Traveller) employees.