Anti-Racist Workplace Week 2009 

Anti-Racist Workplace Week
19th - 23rd October 2009

Theme - Keep your workplace a racism free zone

Please note the ARWW section of our website is under development and will be regularly updated.

Introduction to Anti-Racist Workplace Week

This year´s annual anti-racist workplace week took place during the week 19th-23rd October. Anti-Racist Workplace Week is a social partnership initiative organised by the Equality Commission and key social partner organisations consisting of employers, trade unions and Black and minority ethnic groups. The main focus of the week was to raise awareness around the issue of racism in the workplace and to encourage employers to develop strategies to achieve equality of opportunity in a culturally diverse workforce.

Aims of Anti-Racist Workplace Week

The aims of the initiative are:

• To raise awareness around the role the workplace can play in challenging racism in the wider community
  
  
• To ensure employees are made aware of their rights in the workplace, and
  
  
• To encourage employers to implement best practice measures to achieve equality for both employees and customers

The partner organisations involved in Anti-Racist Workplace Week seek to encourage and support workplaces to:

• Be free from discrimination and harassment
  
  
• Be welcoming to Black and minority ethnic (including Traveller and migrant worker) employees and customers
  
  
• Accommodate, make adjustments for and value cultural and linguistic diversity among employees and customers
  
  
• Take practical steps to achieve full equality in practice
  
  
• Communicate a message promoting greater equality within the wider community.

Taking Action During Anti-Racist Workplace Week

The Equality Commission will be contacting over 4000 companies throughout Northern Ireland asking for their support during the Anti-Racist Workplace Week 2009 initiative. The Commission asks you to display this year´s Anti-Racist Workplace Week poster in a prominent position to demonstrate to both employees and customers the company´s commitment to the initiative. The Equality Commission and the Social partners would also encourage you to organise company based initiatives or training during the week to demonstrate a real commitment to Anti-Racist Workplace Week 2008. For inspiration on how you can get involved in the campaign take a look at the ´How to Participate´ section and also the Events and Activities sections to see what other organisations are doing or have done in previous years.