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Equality guides 'a voice for all'.
From THE IRISH NEWS April 1st, 2000
By John Manley
NEW guidelines on pursuing equality of opportunity and promoting good relations within public bodies were launched yesterday by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Under the terms of the Good Friday agreement, all public authorities are now required to address equality issues when carrying out their functions. The new guidelines are aimed at promoting equality of opportunity between a variety of groups and individuals, including people of different religious beliefs and political opinions, men and women, and ethnic minorities. Launching the guide at Belfast's Waterfront Hall, chief commissioner of the equality commission Joan Harbison said the measures placed equality considerations "at the heart of public policy decision-making". "This is a development which will give people in this community a real voice in the making of policies which affect their lives," Mrs Harbison said. "We have often heard it said in the past that public decision-making should be accountable and that its processes should be transparent, but we have rarely seen those aspirations given real practical effect." The commissioner said that under the equality schemes people would be able to see real and positive change. "By giving a voice to those who were previously excluded we should see more informed and better decision-making in their interests," she said. Mrs Harbison also called on Secretary of State Peter Mandelson to clarify which additional public bodies would be covered by the new duties. "We have emphasised repeatedly the equality commission's view that all public authorities should be included unless there is a compelling reason for them not to be," said Mrs Harbison. "Despite our expressing concern at the delay on a number of occasions, designation has not been made of these official bodies."
During the launch, deputy chief commissioner Bronagh Hinds stressed the
importance of new equality duties in relation to ensuring that everyone
has equality of opportunity.. "Public bodies here must now set up a comprehensive scheme taking equality and good relations fully into account, and this is what the guide will help them to do," said Ms Hinds. "They must consider the interests of people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, of men and women and of people of different religious beliefs and political opinion, all areas which are currently covered by equality legislation."
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