Equality Strategy: Working together for Equality: Summary

why we need an equality strategy

We know that many people in our society experience discrimination and inequality. This often results in social exclusion, in restricted opportunities in employment, in lack of access to goods and services and in under-representation in decision making. Many may experience poverty, abuse and violence. This is a situation which is not acceptable.

These issues are not marginal. They affect many women, disabled people, ethnic minorities, and other groups within our communities.

our commitment

The Scottish Executive believes that we must work together to achieve change. Many local authorities, public and voluntary organisations, businesses and individuals are already committed to equality. They have made real progress in taking things forward. There is still a great deal more to do.

We will work together with a wide range of organisations and bodies, sharing information and enthusiasm, to build a real partnership for change.

The Scottish Parliament can promote equal opportunities in many areas of public life. It can influence and encourage other groups across society. This is a good basis for making sure that improvements are made.

our strategy

Our strategy explains how we propose to make real changes. It has been drawn up after consultation with groups and individuals across Scotland.

Many people from a broad range of backgrounds and interests have given time and effort to help us develop the strategy. We appreciate and value their contributions.

Putting the strategy into practice means that we will continue working together. We will continue learning from each other. We will continue building links with people whose voices need to be heard.

Our strategy explains the principles and practices that will guide our work for the future. It describes the ways in which we will work towards equality.

our objectives

• making better policy and providing better services
• promoting equal opportunities and tackling discrimination
• being a good employer

putting it into practice

Some of the actions we will take to put our objectives into practice are:

• publishing proposals on public appointments by Winter 2000
• including equality objectives in all Scottish Executive Departmental Business Plans from April 2001
• starting development work on a national framework of guidance for translating and interpreting services in Spring 2001
• publishing a collection of statistics which compares the position of men and women by Spring 2001
• presenting a preliminary equality report to the Scottish Parliament in Summer 2001
• publishing proposals on consultative reforms by Summer 2001
• publishing proposals for an Equality Communication Strategy in Autumn 2001
• publishing the first full Scottish Executive Annual Report on Equality Issues in Summer 2002
• beginning pilot work in key areas in 2002 looking at how the Scottish Executive can assess the equality impact of budgets

our approach

mainstreaming equal opportunities

Over time we will mainsteam equal opportunities into our work. This means equality will be integrated into policy development and decision making across all departments and beyond. This will begin with pilot activity in housing and education. We will encourage other bodies to adopt mainstreaming too.

We will develop mainstreaming through:

• leadership from Ministers and senior civil servants
• guidance, advice and training
• integrating equality into departmental workplans and objectives
• encouraging civil servants and other public sector employees to look at how their work will affect different groups of people
• using information and research to develop policy and see if it is working
• looking at what other countries have tried and learning from
• their experiences
• developing ways to examine our spending to assess the impact on equality groups
• involving external groups and interests in policy making
• developing guidance and training on equality assessment of legislation and policy

working in partnership

We want to work on equal opportunities in partnership with:

• public bodies, local authorities, voluntary groups and the private sector
• Equal Opportunities Commission, Disability Rights Commission, Commission for Racial Equality
• equality forums and networks
• educational institutions
• local communities
• trade unions
• academics
• other people who share a commitment to equal opportunities

They all have an important and valuable contribution to make. By working together, we can make a difference.

We will do this by:

• using our existing partnerships, networks and contacts
• strengthening participation and partnership where there are gaps
• working with partners at all key stages so that we learn together and move forward together
• encouraging others to become involved and work in partnership
• looking at new ways of carrying out consultation and developing a communication strategy

leading by example

As an employer we will:

• find ways of developing talent and attracting new workers from a range of groups
• train staff and managers in equality issues and provide information and feedback
• meet targets for increasing the number of women, disabled people and ethnic minorities in the senior civil service
• make work more family friendly
• develop better ways of consulting and communicating with people with different needs

being accountable

We will monitor our actions to make sure that we are meeting our aims. We must show that we are making improvements. We will look at areas where things are not working as well as they could, and where further action or a new approach is needed.

We will:

• develop performance indicators to measure progress
• monitor progress
• publish an annual report and present it to Parliament
• collect better information on different groups in Scotland

Promoting equal opportunities

It is important to raise awareness and understanding about
equal opportunities. We need to foster respect for our diverse communities and cultivate understanding. The Scottish Executive will work in partnership with other organisations to promote this.

We will:

• look at how we present information to different groups
  and how we can do this more effectively
• encourage a broader range of people to take up public appointments
• work with other bodies and groups to identify and share
  good practice
• look at options for a public awareness campaign about equality issues
• encourage other public bodies to promote equality issues
• develop a national framework of guidance for translating
  and interpreting services

conclusion

We are determined to make a Scotland where everyone matters. Discrimination and prejudice have no place in Scotland today. There is no room for excluding people. We need to work together, to pool our skills and talents. We need to have respect for each other.

In this way, we will make all our communities stronger. We will deliver a better deal for all the people of Scotland.

The full details of the strategy are available in 'Working Together For Equality'. Copies are available from:

The Equality Unit
The Scottish Executive
Area 2 West
St Andrew's House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Phone 0131 244 0123
Fax 0131 244 1824

Copies of this summary are also available in community languages and alternative formats on request to the Scottish Executive Equality Unit.

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Gaelic

Gheibhear am pàipear seo ann an cànanan nam mion choimhearsnachdan le bhith a' cur fios air Aonad Co-ionnanachd Luchd-Stiùiridh na h-Alba aig an t-seòladh a leanas;

Equality Unit, Scottish Executive, 2nd floor West,
St Andrew's House, Edinburgh EH1 3DG