Our goal is a Scotland which values its different communities, fosters respect for diversity, challenges prejudice and discrimination and heralds justice and equality.
Mainstreaming equality is our process to achieve this goal. We describe mainstreaming as:
"Mainstreaming equality is the systematic integration of an equality perspective into the everyday work of government, involving policy makers across all government departments, as well as equality specialists and external partners."
- it is a long term strategy that aims to make sure that policy making is fully sensitive to the diverse needs and experiences of people
- it leads to improved policy making through better information, greater transparency and openness in the policy process
- it involves groups and individuals who experience inequality and discrimination in informing policy making through effective consultation mechanisms
- it tackles the under-representation of disadvantaged and excluded groups through encouraging wider participation
- it tackles structures, behaviours and attitudes that contribute to or sustain inequality and discrimination
- it can avoid policies and programmes being adopted that continue existing inequalities or make them worse
- it complements lawful positive action that is designed to address long-term historic disadvantage experienced by specific groups as a result of discriminatory practices and structures
Mainstreaming aims to change organisational cultures so that an equalities perspective becomes an integral part. The Scottish Government recognises that mainstreaming of equality requires:
- leadership and political commitment to the principles and processes of mainstreaming equality
- commitment and ownership across the organisation for the principles and processes of mainstreaming
- work on mainstreaming equality to be integrated with departmental work plans and policy objectives
- guidance, advice, training and support to help departments to develop mainstreaming
- appropriate data, information and research to inform the development of policy and programmes
- policy appraisal and impact assessment with ongoing monitoring, evaluation, audit and review
- networks and effective mechanisms of consultation with external bodies and interests
- an acknowledgement that mainstreaming is not a quick fix and requires time and resource
The Equality Unit will actively promote an equalities perspective within the Scottish Government and support compliance with statutory equality duties. It will:
- raise awareness amongst staff of their role and responsibilities
- develop supportive structures and systems and build knowledge amongst staff of how to use them
- support and enable staff to use the structures and systems to identify impacts of potential and existing policies and programmes on equality groups