The following may be of interest to members of the list - there is a
reduced rate for those giving a paper or workshop. Full details of the
conference can be obtained from [log in to unmask] or from
www.clps.org.uk
Conference:
Mainstreaming Equality: From theory to public policy
Final Call for Papers
Organised by Centre for Local Policy Studies at:
Foresight Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool 26th-28th April 2004
Context
Over the last three years the mainstreaming of equality in race, gender and
disability has become a major issue for policy development and management
in public services. The momentum for change is growing and is beginning to
address new agendas around sexual orientation, religious belief and age,
encouraged by as the European Directive on Employment. Surrounding these
changes are a range of concepts and ideas about discrimination,
mainstreaming, diversity, multiculturalism, equality and social cohesion,
concepts that are insufficiently debated and understood within a policy and
management framework.
The current trend towards mainstreaming equality in public services is
being driven by the pressure on public sector organisations to address
institutional racism; pursue the public duty to promote race equality
raised by the Race Relations Amendment Act; the European Employment
Directive; the development of work through the DDA. The EOC has been
reinvigorated by an initiative around Equal Pay and debate is now in
progress on the creation of a single equality body. All mean that the
debate on equality will take on greater importance in the coming years.
Exploring conflicts
Alongside the debate on equality, there are parallel debates on social
inclusion and deprivation and social cohesion. Concepts of poverty,
deprivation and social class need to fit within the emerging policy
framework for equality. While these debates appear to be engaging with
similar themes they are often addressed through different and conflicting
discourses. If equality is to be mainstreamed, we need to bring these
debates together in a meaningful way to influence policy and management
practice.
Who would be interested?
The Conference is aimed at policy-makers, managers and practitioners and at
academics with an interest in shaping policy and management in the delivery
of equal employment and services. The purpose of this conference is to
explore the concepts underpinning current debates on equality in public
services and to critically examine their policy and management frameworks
that are evolving. Papers/workshop presentations are invited that will
explore the interface between ideas and practice.
Offering a paper or workshop
We are looking for a mix of contributions from practitioners, policy makers
and academics. Papers/Workshops are invited around the following themes but
other relevant contributions will be considered for inclusion. We are
hoping for a wide range of contributions looking at how theory may be
applied and exploring examples of good practice and we will be looking to
use the conference to influence developing practice on mainstreaming
equality. If you would like to discuss a contribution then contact the
conference organisers through the e-mail address below.
· Institutional Discrimination
· Mainstreaming equality
· Evidence based approaches for managing equality
· Managing Equality in public services
· Equality beyond race, gender and disability
· Diversity and Social Cohesion
Proposals for papers and workshops of no more than 500 words may be sent to
[log in to unmask] and additional information will be available on our
website www.clps.org.uk.
Abstracts should be sent to reach us no later than 14th Dec 2003.
Notification of acceptance of papers will be sent out by mid-December.
Papers should be sent by 28th February 2004 for inclusion in the pre-
conference packs.
The Conference is being organised by the Centre for Local Policy Studies at
the Foresight Centre, Liverpool 26th-28th April 2004
The Centre for Local Policy Studies
The Centre for Local Policy Studies at Edge Hill has played a leading role
in the development of Equality Policy within Local Government in England
and Wales through the development of the Equality Standard for Local
Government with the Employers’ Organisation for Local Government and the
three Equality Commissions. Work on the implementation of the Equality
Standard is continuing through the Centre and we are working to develop a
research agenda to look critically at issues of mainstreaming, ‘best
practice’, Diversity and Social Cohesion. The Centre is committed to
developing debate on equality at the interface between theory and practice.
Stuart Speeden
Head of Centre
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