"Fairness for all" goal of new organisation

Saturday 20 January 2018

Employment & Social Security has plans to develop an Equality and Rights Organisation (ERO), which would be a statutory body aimed at helping to foster fairness and inclusion for everyone.

The ESS Committee has hosted a workshop to engage stakeholders so work can began to map out how the organisation would operate.

The States’ Disability & Inclusion Strategy includes the establishment of an ERO in principle, which is dependent on an approved business plan, funding and prioritisation.

The workshop was designed to discuss the possible scope, functions and remit of an ERO which would suit Guernsey’s population. Members of the island’s Equality Working Group attended the workshop, including Citizens Advice Guernsey, Liberate, Guernsey Disability Alliance and Safer. The Children’s Convenor, Honorary Consul of Latvia and representatives of the Employment Relations Service, Chamber of Commerce and Law Officers of the Crown also participated.

Kate Raleigh, from Citizens Advice Guernsey, said: “Our Case Analysis of Discrimination Enquiries (2015-16) illustrates that discrimination does exist here in Guernsey. People have contacted us reporting discrimination based on gender, pregnancy, disability, race and sexual orientation, among other factors. Surprisingly this included a few complaints from islanders who said they had been discriminated against in the workplace simply because they were local.

Deputy Emilie Yerby, who is part of the ESS Committee’s ERO Project Team, said: “Each and every one of Guernsey’s residents deserves to be free from discrimination in the workplace and in the community. We know that jurisdictions that have statutory equality bodies and corresponding legislation have more success in reducing discrimination. That is why we are working to create a statutory organisation that would promote equality for all islanders, and help remedy any unfairness.”

“It’s essentially about fairness, about ensuring that everyone in our society is treated with respect,” added Deputy Michelle Le Clerc, ESS President. “Our work toward creating an equality body suited for Guernsey’s population is an important component of the Disability & Inclusion Strategy.”

Equality and rights organisations already exist in the UK and Ireland, and other countries. The Disability & Inclusion Strategy is among the 23 policy priorities in the current Policy & Resource Plan.