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Equality for All 07 

Equality for All image

This campaign has been developed to promote ‘Equality for All’, which is the key theme of the Commission’s Corporate Plan 2006 - 2009.
 
The overall aim is to promote greater public understanding of the equality legislation, across all of the grounds covered, and to publicise the role of the Equality Commission. 
 
The campaign coincides with the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007 which aims to launch a major debate on the benefits of diversity for European societies. The four key themes of the Year are:
 
  1. Rights­ – raising awareness of the right to equality and non-discrimination particularly amongst groups that are at risk of discrimination.
     
  2. Representation – stimulating a debate on ways to increase the participation of under-represented groups in society.
     
  3. Recognition – celebrating and accommodating diversity by highlighting individuals’ contributions and accentuating the benefits of diversity.
     
  4. Respect – promoting a more cohesive society by raising awareness of the importance of eliminating stereotypes, prejudice and violence and promoting good relations between all in society, and in particular among young people.
The Equality for All Campaign will support these themes and reflect the focus on raising awareness of rights amongst groups at risk of discrimination. It will also aim to promote a greater understanding, particularly amongst young people, of the benefits of eliminating prejudice in our society. The campaign will run until March 2008 and includes a variety of events and activities, outreach and promotional work.
 
The central messages of the campaign are:
  1. Everyone has the right to enjoy equal treatment and a life free from discrimination.
     
  2. The equality legislation protects all of us from discrimination across a range of protected grounds (race, sex, religious belief, political opinion, sexual orientation, age and disability).
     
  3. The laws cover many aspects of our daily lives such as employment, training, education, housing, the delivery of goods, facilities and services and the policies of public authorities.
     
  4. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has overall responsibility for the legislation and has a wide range of functions including the provision of information, advice and assistance to people who they believe they may have been discriminated against.
     
  5. While discrimination has a negative impact on individuals and groups within our society, there are many benefits to be gained by a society that respects difference and welcomes diversity.    

Programme of Activities

 
General Awareness Raising
 
A range of media are being used to raise public awareness of the Equality Commission and the law. These include:
 
  • “Your Equality Rights” – short leaflet outlining individuals’ rights under equality legislation and information on the role of the Commission (will be issued shortly). 
      
  • Series of Information Roadshows at shopping centres geographically spread throughout Northern Ireland
     
    • Erneside    - 18 and 19 October 2007
    • Ards          - 26 October 2007
    • Foyleside   - 8 and 9 November 2007 
    • Further venues planned – dates to follow.

  • Advertising Campaign

    • Bus advertising throughout Northern Ireland with equality text-back competition 
    • Shopperlites at locations in Belast, Foyleside and Portadown
    • Scannervision Shaftesbury Square, Belfast - carrying Equality for All campaign messages
    • Newspaper advertising
    • Promotional materials – posters, flyers, postcards to promote campaign.
 
Stakeholder Engagement
 
The campaign aims to raise awareness of equality rights amongst key stakeholder groups by supporting and participating in a range of initiatives and events: 
  • Belfast Pride – 4 August 2007
     
  • “Out and Proud” photographic exhibition, Belfast – August 2007
     
  •  Foyle Pride Human Rights Conference – 18 August 2007
     
  • Age Awareness Week – 1 to 5 October 2007
     
    • Goods Facilities & Services Conference
    • Promotion of Age Awareness DVD – can be downloaded at www.equalityni.org
  • Migrant Worker Information Day - 30 September 2007 - organised by Eures Cross Border Partnership
     
  • Electoral Commission Advocacy Programme for Travellers - equality awareness training delivered by the Commission within this programme
     
  • Arts and Health Conference, Island Centre Lisburn - 11 October 2007. Launch of report on three-year arts and health research project with socially disadvantaged and vulnerable people selected under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act, 1998.
     
  • Visible Women Conference, Bangor - 16 November 2007.
     
  • Anti-Homophobia Campaign - CoSO Conference - ‘Sexual Orientation, Human Rights and our Shared Future’- 17 November 2007.
  • WINS (Women Into Non-Traditional Sectors) Project - Final Conference, Waterfront Hall, Belfast 7th March 2008 
Focus on Young People
 
Involvement in activities and events designed to engage young people in the equality/diversity debate:
  • Photographic Competition –“Transforming Images – What Diversity Means to You” – organised in partnership with the Equality Authority. Competition targeted at 200 schools involved in the European Studies Programme. Closing date for entries has been extended to 7 December 2007. Twelve winning entrants to receive a prize of a digital camera and see their image reproduced in a 2008 calendar.

  • Opportunity Europe Fair and Exhibition, St George’s Market, Belfast -13 and 14 November. Organised by the European Commission and Belfast City Council aimed at secondary level pupils in schools throughout Northern Ireland. Information and interactive activities with a European theme designed to raise equality awareness amongst participants.

  • Celebrating Diversity Event, South West College, Dungannon-Launch of  "Embedding Diversity"  Report - 6 December
  • Equality and Diversity Event-Students Union, University of Ulster Coleraine Campus 6th March 2008 
2008 Events
 
  • Shopping Centre Roadshows

    • Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena - 18 January
    • The Diamond Centre, Coleraine - 25 January
    • The Quays, Newry - 14 March
    • Bow Street Mall, Lisburn - 29 February
 
A number of other initiatives and events are planned and will be publicised on the website in due course. This includes an introductory equality resource pack aimed at raising awareness amongst voluntary and community sector groups.
 
If you would like any more information about any of the above events, or would like to organise an event to mark European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, please contact the Promotion and Education Division - see contact details below;

Telephone: 028 90 500687 or email: gpatterson@equalityni.org
Telephone: 028 90 500558 or email: hwilson@equalityni.org