Staying true to our values of fairness and social justice

One of the parts of my job that I enjoy most is delivering our human rights and equality training and events. It’s a real privilege to be invited into a whole host of organisations from across the third sector. I get to meet some fantastic people and am given precious time with them to explore a subject that is really important to me. Something that is reinforced very clearly is how much the values of equality and social justice are at the heart of what we do. Third sector organisations get it. Every day we stand up for the most vulnerable people in our society. We understand the impact of inequality and what it means to have our rights trampled on. Our values and reasons for doing what we do are what set us apart and really something to be proud of. Having said that, another thing that I’m regularly reminded of is that, no matter how fair and just we believe ourselves to be, we are still all very capable of creating inequality in what we do. Of acting on the assumptions, stereotypes and prejudices that we all hold. Of creating organisational cultures that breed negativity and mistrust. Of not doing enough to challenge inequality, harassment and bullying. Of excluding some people from the support we are there to offer. Of discriminating. I’m no less guilty of this than anyone else.  One of the things our training focuses on is the importance of not allowing the first impressions that we instantly create about people to influence the decisions we make. Yet every time I deliver training you can bet that I’ll have made assumptions before we start. Who are the people who think this is a complete waste of time? Where’s the person (because there’s always one) who will take every opportunity to try and impress me with their knowledge of equality, just so I’m under no illusion that I’m telling them anything they don’t already know? Who will really challenge me and make me think on my feet today? I can’t help it, even though I know, and have proven to me time and time again, that I’m very likely to be wrong.

We should always check ourselves to ensure the values we stand for are consistent through everything we do

I think it is especially important that in the third sector we do not allow ourselves to become complacent about our potential to create inequality and discriminate. Yes we are the caring sector, and we fight for fairness and social justice every day. But we should always check ourselves to ensure the values we stand for are consistent through everything we do. To make sure the people we are there to support are there right beside us, every step of the way. Over the last year or so I have been involved in the development of a new Equality and Human Rights Performance Framework for the third sector. This innovative new online resource has been developed by the sector, for the sector. It provides a way for voluntary organisations and community groups of all shapes and sizes to understand how we can become stronger, and be more effective, when we approach the things we do from a human rights and equality based perspective. Not only can the Framework help to make sure we are all staying true to the values of equality and human rights in everything we do, but it can also support our campaigning, lobbying and fundraising efforts. It can support us to use a human rights and equality framework to strengthen our arguments and evidence the impact that we have supporting people across Scotland and beyond, every day. I encourage you to take a look and consider how it could support your work: www.ehrf.org.uk