Behind the all-important social indicators – from public attitudes towards immigration to incidence of hate crimes – is the question of why. Why do people hold such attitudes, or behave in such ways? Research has revealed a consistent and often overlooked factor in answering this question: our values.
 

A new report from the Public Interest Research Centre (PIRC), commissioned by Equinet, found that when people value community, social justice and freedom, they tend to be less discriminatory.

Across Europe the research shows a positive picture: people view these values as most important. So why are people still not treated equally? Because patterns of prejudice and inequality in Europe are linked to the weight people place on these values compared with others. From attitudes towards minorities in leadership positions to the rate at which people report discrimination, the influence of values is clear and consistent.

These values are not static; they can be engaged and strengthened. European equality bodies and other organisations can actively work to bring to the fore the sense of respect and care for others that every person already holds within them.

Continue reading and download the report at http://goo.gl/ApwQUK

Reconciliation of work and family life and work-life balance are issues of concern to many equality bodies and have been a focus for important initiatives by a number of equality bodies.

However, it is clear that a large number of equality bodies have not seen these as priority issues on which to concentrate any significant amount of resources. In part this is due to a lack of resources, in part it could be due to identifying these issues as lying beyond a mandate that is focused on combating discrimination.

Reconciliation of work and family life, however, lies at the heart of any ambition for gender equality. The purpose of this perspective is, therefore, to support equality bodies to take up work on these issues, to further develop their work on these issues, and to deepen their contribution to combating discrimination, to gender equality and to equality on a range of other grounds through peer learning on progress made by equality bodies in different jurisdictions on these issues. It will also enable and shape Equinet’s contribution to supporting the work of equality bodies on these issues and to contributing the learning from this work to policy formation as appropriate.

To download, order, and read more about our report, visit the page at http://goo.gl/LMpOYk

Significant social and legislative progress has been achieved in Europe over the years and equality bodies have played and continue to play an active role in the advancement of diversity in the workplace and services. Their work, often in collaboration with employers, service providers and other actors in the field is key to making diversity in the workplace and in service provision a reality.

In this context Equinet has launched a paper to provide equality bodies with a good practice guide in making reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities by employers and service providers and to offer practical help and guidance to put the concepts of diversity and equality policies through reasonable accommodation measures into practice. This guide is designed for national equality bodies to inspire and help build further knowledge and a greater understanding of instruments and approaches available to promote the concept of reasonable accommodation to employers and service providers.

To download and read more about our guide, visit the page at http://goo.gl/K8uVwm