Equality and Human Rights Commission

Just days before the All-Wales Convention’s report, a new study has found that under devolution strides have been taken towards equality, and equality has given strength to devolution.

Equal Opportunities and Human Rights: The First Decade of Devolution by Dr Paul Chaney of Cardiff University was commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Wales.

View the the full report and supporting documents.

Equality and Human Rights Commission National Director for Wales Kate Bennett said:

“This report finds that under devolution strides have been taken towards equality, and equality has given strength to devolution. We see an equalities agenda taking shape that is distinct from Westminster and more suited to the everyday needs of Wales.

“We have seen a world’s first with the Senedd’s gender balance, and we’ve seen UK firsts in the Commissioners for Children and Older People.

 “Assembly Members have much to be proud of in terms of promoting equality, but we need to see more being done to ensure equality is mainstreamed into service delivery.

“To make this happen, the Commission is keen to identify ways to overcome the barriers to equality identified in the current era of devolution.”

Dr Paul Chaney, Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University, presented his report’s findings at the Commission’s first Annual Lecture, held on Wednesday 11th November 2009 at Cardiff University.

His report formed part of the evidence the Commission in Wales gave to the All-Wales Convention.

Paul Chaney’s report finds:

• Evidence of devolved policies going beyond the approach taken by Westminster to equality and human rights issues. For example, the placing of a duty (in 2000) on school governing bodies and head teachers to promote equal opportunities and good relations.
• An equalities infrastructure established, with the creation of the Commissioners for Children and Older People.
• The use of All-Wales strategies to address equalities issues. For example, the Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence Action Plan.
• The Assembly was the first legislature in the world to achieve gender balance, resulting in gender equality issues moving up the Assembly’s agenda.
• Promoting participation has been to the fore, notably the promotion of participation of young people in public decision- making. This is evident through such initiatives as Funky Dragon

The report does find barriers that have hindered equality developments in Wales. The report finds:

• An implementation gap exists between equality and human rights policy development and delivery
• Policy ambition has been constrained by the National Assembly’s level of powers, such as the inability of the National Assembly to ban smacking in public or regulated care.
• Limited progress in cross-strand approaches to equality in public policy
• A need for equality to be more successfully mainstreamed across policy areas

View the the full report and supporting documents.

The executive summary is at Chapter 2.

Note

Dr Paul Chaney will deliver the Commission’s first Annual Lecture on Wednesday 11th November 2009 at the Glamorgan Building, Cardiff University. The lecture will start at 7pm

For more information and interview requests please contact Jamie Westcombe on 029 2044 7710 or mobile 07843325231