“On the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Equality Working Group ( EWG) are encouraged that finally Guernsey seems to be making significant progress towards promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of all Islanders.
This has been a highly significant year with the States assembly giving overwhelming support to the establishment of broad equality legislation giving protection on multiple grounds and the Committee for Employment and Social Security ( ESS) committing to return to the States with proposals by the end of this political term. In addition ESS will return to the States with a Policy Letter to gain support for the establishment of an Equality Rights Organisation in the Spring of 2019. It has been positive to hear the Chief Minister giving his public support recently to the establishment of such an organisation and his recognition of its importance in successfully implementing the new legislation
In addition there has been progress in areas of the Disability and Inclusion Strategy such as the Frameworks for Dementia and People with Autism along with progress in the safeguarding of vulnerable adults; although we have yet to see if there are tangible outcomes from these developments for service users. There is however still much to do in other aspects of the strategy which must be properly resourced in future years.
The recent CIPD conference was very successful in promoting positively the moral and economic case for increased diversity in the workforce and was well attended and the message well received. The recent Accessible Town initiative, including great media coverage, has been very successful in raising awareness of disability amongst retailers and the wider community. The launch of the UNESCO Rights Respecting Schools award for all States schools is another very positive initiative in promoting the rights agenda and has the potential for great impact.
However it is now critical to build on this momentum, ensuring the ERO proposals are supported in the States, that there is proper engagement in next year’s consultation on the Equality Legislation and that the recently launched request for bids for education and information is well supported and the programme effectively delivered. It is also of vital importance that ESS are appropriately resourced to ensure that the timescales publicised are met.
Pictured: Alan Brown hopes the States will now get moving and progress the plans to ensure the human rights of everyone living in Guernsey are respected.
It is clear that the plans due to be progressed during 2019 are essential in ensuring that the fundamental human rights of all people living in Guernsey are properly protected and supported. This is of particular significance to the more vulnerable members of our community. The EWG will continue to work with ESS and other States committees to promote and progress the Equality agenda and hope to be actively involved in future awareness raising campaigns.”
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not of Bailiwick Express.
Pictured top: Alan Brown.
