/ / Equality Authority welcomes Gender Recognition Report and CSO Equality Survey Results launched today

Equality Authority welcomes Gender Recognition Report and CSO Equality Survey Results launched today

Equality Authority welcomes Gender Recognition Report and CSO Equality Survey Results launched today

 

Press Release – 14th July 2011

“Today was a progressive and busy day for equality” said Equality Authority CEO Renée Dempsey in welcoming the publication of the Report of the Gender Recognition Advisory Group and the publication of the latest special survey on equality by the Central Statistics Office.

CSO Survey on Equality

This nationally representative survey examines the reported experience of discrimination of people of the age of 18 years and over. It finds that 12% of people felt they had experienced discrimination in the previous two years. This was the same rate of discrimination as in the last such survey carried out in 2004.

The survey found that in the fourth quarter of 2010:-

  • 12 % of those aged 18 years or over – some 400,000 people in the population – felt they had experienced discrimination in the 2 year period prior to the survey.
  • 6% of adults (18+) had experienced work related discrimination and 7% had experienced discrimination in accessing services ( some people had experienced both)
  • The highest rates of discrimination were reported by people from non-White ethnic backgrounds (29%) unemployed people (22%) non-Irish nationals (20%) and people who where not Catholic (18%).
  • Looking across the nine grounds of the equality legislation – race and age were the most widely reported grounds for discrimination – with Race/Skin Colour/Ethnic Group/Nationality cited by 22% of those experiencing discrimination and age cited by 19%

Commenting on the CSO findings Renée Dempsey, CEO of the Equality Authority, said that “Discrimination remains an enormous challenge to Irish society. We need to strengthen our ommitment to equality in Ireland as a key element of our strategy for economic recovery.”

The survey also examined people’s awareness of their rights under equality legislation. It found that:-

  • Just 30% had a good understanding of their rights under equality legislation – though this was up from 28% in 2004
  • People in employment – at 36% – were more likely to have a good understanding of their rights than other adults
  • However younger people, people with disabilities, non-Irish nationals, people from non-White ethnic backgrounds and people with less than Leaving Certificate level education were all considerably less likely to understand their rights than others.
  • People with a greater awareness of their rights were more likely to take action when they experienced discrimination.

Renée Dempsey highlighted the low levels of awareness to their rights of vulnerable groups: “It remains the case that those most at risk of discrimination are least likely to know their rights. This survey shows that knowing your rights makes a real difference and addressing this issue remains a particular challenge to the Equality Authority arising from this survey”

Report on Gender Recognition Advisory Group

“The Equality Authority also welcomes the publication of the Report of the Gender Recognition Advisory Group by Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD today. The publication of this important Report, which proposes legislative recognition and provides proper legal status for transgendered people, is a very progressive step forward” added Ms Dempsey.

The Equality Authority made a written submission to the Reporting Group and also made an oral presentation supporting gender recognition. The Report outlines many progressive initiatives which will greatly improve the quality of life for transgendered people in Ireland.

“The Equality Authority welcomes the commitment by the Minister to progress legislation within a year, and her ‘open door’ commitment to hear views on the final content of such long awaited legislative change. While acknowledging the potential Constitutional dilemma that guided some of the proposals, the Equality Authority is concerned about the proposals that may necessitate the compulsory termination of a valid marriage or civil partnership. These issues are important and complex and warrant further discussion and thought to prevent any interference in the human rights of people involved in this process” added Ms Dempsey.

“The Equality Authority is also open to legislative changes which will ensure protections for people who begin the proposed two year process of gender change, that their transitional circumstances and status will be fully protected from discriminatory treatment or harassment under Irish equality legislation” concluded Ms Dempsey.

The full text of the Equality Authority’s submission to the Gender Recognition Advisory Group is available on www.equality.ie.

Ends