SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Towards an Equality Strategy:Consultation on the Development of the Strategy

ANNEX

EXCERPT FROM

QUESTIONS OF MAINSTREAMING: EXAMINING POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS WITHIN AN EQUALITIES FRAMEWORK

What is mainstreaming?

• ‘Mainstreaming’ equality is essentially concerned with the integration of equal opportunities principles, strategies and practices into the every day work of Government and other public bodies from the outset, involving ‘every day’ policy actors in addition to equality specialists. In other words, it entails rethinking mainstream provision to accommodate gender, race, disability and other dimensions of discrimination and disadvantage, including sexuality and religion.

• It is a long-term strategy to frame policies in terms of the realities of people’s daily lives, and to change organisation cultures and structures accordingly. It puts people, and their diverse needs and experiences, at the heart of policy-making.

• It leads to better government through better informed policy-making and a greater transparency and openness in the policy process and helps to tackle democratic deficit by encouraging wider participation in the policy process through effective consultation mechanisms.

• As a process it tackles the structures in society which contribute to, or sustain, discrimination and disadvantage.

• The application of a mainstreaming approach can avoid the adoption of policies and programmes which replicate discrimination and exacerbate existing inequalities.

• Mainstreaming complements lawful positive action designed to address the historic and current impact of discriminating structures and practices.

An Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality publication in partnership with Governance of Scotland Forum, University of Edinburgh.

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