Lesson Eight: Equal Opportunities and Sport

1. Cultural Diversity In & Through Sport Lesson Eight: Equal Opportunities and Sport

2. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

3. Learning Outcomes By the end of the session you should be able to: • Explain the meaning of Equal Opportunities • Describe the importance of Equal Opportunities

4. Task: Warm Up Work in groups and answer the following questions: • What are human rights? • What laws are there to protect your human rights? • Name some of your human rights which are protected by law.

5. Definition of Human Rights Every human being has the right to free speech, freedom of religion/worship, freedom from torture or inhumane treatment, access to education and work, access to an adequate standard of living and housing, access to fair trials and the ability to participate in social, cultural and political activities: • These rights are said to be ‘universal’, • They apply to every human and are ‘fundamental’ • They cannot be revoked or ignored

6. Human Rights Laws These rights are enshrined in a variety of international treaties which form the basis of international human rights law: • In Europe, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950. • Here in the United Kingdom, the Human Rights Act of 1998 was adopted to reinforce the UK’s commitment to human rights and is in force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

7. Human Rights Act 1998 In the UK, the Human Rights Act (1988): • Makes it a law in the UK that specific human rights and freedoms of everyone in the United Kingdom must be respected, at all times. • This means it offers protection in extraordinary situations, but also in everyone’s daily lives

8. EU Protection of Human Rights The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, an enacted by the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, prohibits… “..any discrimination based on any ground, such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.”

9. Equal Opportunities at Work • Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 contains provisions to implement the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation.

10. Equal Rights Human Rights Laws are: • Considered to draw upon the notion of human rights • Based upon a commitment to equal treatment • Have most often been associated with social/ employment rights

11. Task: Group Activity In groups discuss and answer the following questions: • Provide a definition of equal opportunities • Suggest reasons why equal opportunities important • Provide examples where equal opportunities were not expressed? Instances were changes made? What was the outcome? Is this beneficial and for whom?

12. Definition of Equal Opportunities Equal Opportunities: • Refers to an equal distribution, among individuals, of opportunities for education, training, employment, career development and the exercise of power without their being disadvantaged on the basis of their gender, ethnicity, language, religion, economic or family situation, and so forth.

13. Task: Group Activity In groups discuss and answer the following questions: • What is an Equal Opportunities Policy and what should be included within it? • Describe its importance.

14. Equal Opportunity Policies • A plan of action drawn up by an institution based on its legal responsibilities and how these should be implemented • Should outline actions and practices to be adopted by staff to eliminate direct and indirect discrimination on grounds of: • Race, gender, disability, age, sexual preferences, culture, learning needs, marital status, National origins

15. Equal Opportunity Policies Equal opportunities in the workplace: • Almost all employers now have a policy referring to discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability • These are included because discrimination on these grounds is unlawful. • Good policies will also cover age, marital status, gender and sexuality or sexual orientation

16. Equality The core principles of equality are: • Valuing multicultural, multilingual, multi-faith and multiethnic societies • Valuing individuals regardless of gender, disability, culture, religion and sexual orientation • Offering and providing equal chances to everyone in society, irrespective of variations within the population • Maintaining and upholding each individual’s human rights • Having an equitable society, with everyone receiving equal treatment

17. Equality Equity means fairness: • It is the process of allocating or reallocating resources and entitlements fairly and without discrimination, and taking steps to redress any existing inequalities or unfairness in how resources or entitlements are currently distributed.

18. Equal Opportunity in Practice • A surprise outcome from giving someone a chance: Click here.

19. Equality in Sport • Equity in sport means applying the principles of fairness to ensure that the diverse needs of individuals in society are respected, so that all individuals have equal opportunities to participate in sport and physical recreation and have their rights protected

20. Thought for the Day • An equal opportunity advert from Belgium: Click here.