racial equality

The conviction of some of the perpetrators of the murder of Stephen Lawrence at the start of 2012 has led to a renewed focus on the institutional racism in our criminal justice system; institutional racism that meant that the Lawrence family had to wait over 18 years for any form of justice. Media comment has focused on the headline grabbing disparities in the use of stop and search, recruitment and retention in the police service, and access to justice for victims of racist violence. These are the issues that are addressed in this paper.

This page contains the findings of systematic reviews undertaken by review groups linked to the EPPI-Centre. This topic is included in the EPPI-Centre knowledge library. The Knowledge Pages facility enables users to search for the key messages within specific subject areas to which EPPI-Centre reviews have contributed.

Report that presents key findings from a study of public attitudes towards discrimination and positive action. Based on data from the Scottish Social Attitudes survey (SSA), the study aimed to:

• Measure the extent and character of discriminatory attitudes in Scotland in 2010
• Assess the extent of support for positive action to try and achieve equality for different groups
• Examine how attitudes have changed over time.

In 2009, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation launched A Better Life, a new research programme focussing on how we can improve the quality of life of older people with high support needs. The first publications as part of this programme reveal the key messages which are central to enabling people to live A Better Life.

The full report, 'Equality and diversity and older people with high support needs', considers what we know about the needs and situations of older people with high support needs from different equality groups, and the barriers they commonly face in service provision.

What are the causes of racism? And how successful are policy measures in addressing these? The main focus in this unique review has been on British research and policy evidence. The review also included examples of international interventions and the lessons from their success.

This discussion paper considers the characteristics of social care organisations that successfully promote diversity, and explores research on the barriers to promoting diversity and how they can be overcome.

N.B. Free download requires registration.

Grampian Racial Equality Council was established in the mid-1980s to tackle discrimination as defined by, and within the confines of, the Race Relations Act 1976, soon to be strengthened and complemented by the forthcoming Race Relations Act (Amendment) Bill and the Human Rights Act 1998. Although the Grampian Racial Equality Council was an autonomous, voluntary sector, organisation they work in partnership with the government body, the Commission for Racial Equality.

NESEN is a user-led Grampian wide Equality Network.

Paper exploring black and ethnic minorities experiences of using mental health services in England which research has shown is different to that of the rest of the population. It argues that improving mental health services for black and minority ethnic people could both improve outcomes and lessen financial costs.

In a contribution to the JRF's 'social evils' series, author Ferdinand Mount discusses the theme of 'inequality'. In 2007 the JRF asked the British public for their views on what constituted a 'social evil'. In this Viewpoint, Ferdinand Mount explores one aspect raised by many respondents - the problems created by an unequal society. He discusses five inequalities and how to remedy them: political inequality; differing life outcomes; inequality of opportunity; treatment and responsibility; shared equality of membership in the areas of nation, faith and family.

European Network Against Racism (ENAR), a network of European Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working to combat racism in all the EU member states, is a major outcome of the 1997 European Year Against Racism. ENAR is determined to fight racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, to promote equality of treatment between EU citizens and third country nationals, and to link local/regional/national initiatives with European initiatives.