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'Policy on Diversity and Equality'.
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Lord McDowall
|
Addressee |
[FOI #4016 email] |
Street Name |
27 November 2008
Dear Lord McDowall
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Thank you for your recent e-mail requesting a copy of our policy which covers Equality and Diversity and the promotion of Equal Opportunities. I am taking this opportunity to respond to your request outside FOI legislation as this provides me with an opportunity to more fully respond to your enquiry. Please find enclosed the following documents:
NIO Equality Scheme document;
NIO Equal Opportunities Guide;
NICS Dignity at Work Policy;
NIO Diversity Delivery Plan 2007-08 2008-09;
NIO Work-life Balance booklet; and
NIO Work-life Balance Toolkit for line managers'.
In the spring of 2000 the then Prime Minister launched the Government's Work-life Balance initiative. This initiative encourages employers to consider the benefits in business terms of enabling their employees to achieve and maintain a better balance between work and home. Whilst business needs remain paramount, WLB also aims to address the needs and aspirations of all employees, whatever their reasons for seeking a better balance between work and home-life. The enclosed WLB guides offer proactive solutions to manage competing priorities and this could include occasions such as your enquiry about how the Department deals with conflict of religion and true equality. I have also enclosed a copy of the NI Civil Service Dignity at Work Policy dealing with inappropriate behaviour / conflict in the workplace. The Guide describes inappropriate behaviour and outlines the consequences of such behaviour. Instances of conflict of religion and true equality are treated on an individual basis, sensitively managed within the Department's policies and operational business needs.
In Northern Ireland, Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires public authorities to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard to the desirability of promoting good relations. Under section 75 of the Act, the Northern Ireland Office is required to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:
between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
between men and women generally (including gender identity);
between persons with a disability and persons without; and
Between persons with dependants and persons without.
The department is also required to:
have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group; and
Meet legislative obligations under the Disability Discrimination Order.
The Northern Ireland Office is fully committed to the fulfilment of the section 75 obligations on the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations.
In addition to these activities, the Department also completes annual employment monitoring returns on NI Community Background to the Equality Commission NI and has developed a Diversity Delivery Plan. This plan is currently being revised to meet the aspirations of the Government's latest Promoting Equality / Valuing Diversity strategy, launched 17th July. Again I have enclosed a copy of this strategy document for your information. NIO has also appointed four Champions at Departmental Board level on Gender, Race, Disability, and LGBT issues. We have also established a Diversity Management Steering group (DSG), which meets 4-5 times per annum. DSG is attended by HR Management, staff volunteers from all grades, Trade Union and Staff Diversity Network representatives.
DSG discusses and takes forward Diversity themes and makes recommendations to the Departmental Board to improve Diversity representation and awareness. We are attempting to take a creative and innovative approach to Diversity and we are especially pleased to put in place ideas and events suggested by staff. Some recent headline activities and actions include:
In January 2007 the Department joined the Stonewall Diversity Champions Network and recently participated in both the Stonewall LGB and A:GENDER Transgender Equality Workplace assessments. We await our feedback from both;
The Department partnered with the Home Office to hold a lecture to commemorate the Abolition of Slavery; and we recently sponsored a Diversity planning day with the Ministry of Justice and the NICS Diversity Champion as the Departments prepares for devolution to a NIO Department of Justice and a future NIO with links to the Ministry of Justice.
Other solo events have been held to promote disability, LGBT and race themes; the largest being a Belfast event in September 07 to promote Diversity in the Department. We were delighted to have two well known Diversity guest speakers, one a Member of the NI Assembly and the other a lead PSNI official to discuss a wide range of race, religion and gay issues at an open staff forum.
To promote LGBT issues, I attended a Belfast Pride event (“Meet the Police”) with a member of the LGBT network.
The Department also has in place a mandatory Diversity Training Programme for all staff.
As mentioned previously, the Department is an active supporter of the Government's Promoting Equality / Valuing Diversity strategy, launched by the Cabinet Secretary on 17th July, 2008.
I hope this information is helpful.
Yours sincerely
Karen Pearson
KAREN PEARSON
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PERSONNEL
Encs
Northern Ireland Office
Freedom of Information Team
Annex A
Dundonald House
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3SU
Telephone 028 90765841
Email: [NIO request email]
Northern Ireland Office
Freedom of Information Team
Annex A
Dundonald House
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3SU
Telephone 028 90765841
Email: [NIO request email]
Freedom of Information Team