In February 2024, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the ‘Commission’) announced that it has used its legal powers to invite Gymnastics Ireland to carry out an Equality Review of its services, and that Gymnastics Ireland had accepted this invitation. Today, the Commission has published an account of the outcome of Gymnastic Ireland’s Equality Review , which consisted of an audit by the organisation of the level of equality of opportunity that exists in relation to Gymnastics Ireland’s provision of services, having regard to the relevant equality law (the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018). The process involved an examination by Gymnastics Ireland of the practices and procedures that it has in place to promote equality of opportunity generally in the provision of its services. The Commission welcomes Gymnastics Ireland positive engagement with the Equality Review process. Gymnastics Ireland has implemented a number of welcome policy and procedural changes as a result of this review. For example, it has adopted an entirely new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (“DEIB”) Strategy. In addition, Gymnastics Ireland has hired two new staff members with responsibility for DEIB (a new Safe Sport and Integrity Manager and a new Director of Community Support and Operations). These are significant steps implemented by Gymnastics Ireland to build its equality architecture. Overall, the Equality Review process undertaken by Gymnastics Ireland is of a very high standard, and the Commission recognises the level of effort that the organisation has put into preparing the Equality Review. Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner said:
“We welcome the publication today of the details of the Equality Review undertaken by Gymnastics Ireland. The achievement of equality of opportunity requires continuous and ongoing work and it is positive to see that Gymnastics Ireland has put in place a strong policy and procedural framework to protect and promote this. The Commission hopes that the implementation of this new framework in practice will ensure equality of opportunity for all. Sport is an important part of the fabric of our society, and sporting organisations have an important role to play in promoting and protecting equality amongst their participants. We hope this Equality Review can provide a useful resource for other sporting bodies and cultural institutions in their promotion of equality.”
ENDS/ For more information, please contact: Sarah Clarkin, IHREC Communications Manager, 01 8592641 / 087 4687760 sarah.clarkin@ihrec.ie
Notes to the Editor:
Read Account of Equality Review carried out by Gymnastics Ireland
Equality Review
Section 32 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality 2014 Act gives the Commission statutory powers in relation to the carrying out of Equality Reviews and the preparation of Equality Action Plans. An Equality Review or Equality Action Plan may relate to equality of opportunity generally, or a particular aspect of discrimination, within an organisation or organisations (public or private sector). Equality of opportunity is understood as meaning that an organisation affords the same opportunities and treatment to persons, without such persons being disadvantaged on the basis of any discriminatory grounds listed in the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018 and with a view to ensuring full equality in practice among persons. The discriminatory grounds listed in the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018 include the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community. Organisations are requested to carry out Equality Reviews and the focus of the reviews are a matter within the discretion of the Commission, having regard to its areas of focused work and its strategic priorities. In non-legal terms Equality Reviews are a means for an organisation to benchmark, or audit, its practices against its obligations under equality law in order to assess whether the organisation, as a service provider, is fulfilling its statutory obligations to ensure equality of opportunity, or an absence of discrimination.
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body, appointed by the President and directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission has a statutory remit set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014) to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is Ireland’s national human rights institution and is recognised as such by the United Nations. The Commission is also Ireland’s national equality body for the purpose of a range of EU anti-discrimination measures.