Anti-Racist & Equal Opportunities Statement
By: Sobuj Bagan Friends Society
The Equal Opportunities Policy applies equally to users, staffs, members of the management committee and other committees, and where applicable to other agents or agencies involved with the society.
This statement is not intended to be a treatise on the existence of racism and prejudice nor on its total eradication from our society. Rather it is intended to be a simple statement of the intent and absolute conviction of the Society to make its own contradiction to the methodical of all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
The Society recognize that certain groups in society are discriminated against the Society is taking positive action to implement and develop its Equal opportunities Policy and to monitor and review the effectiveness of that policy in aspects of its work.
The Society recognize that people are discriminated against on the grounds of race, gender, national, ethnic, or cultural origins, disability mental or physical health including HIV status and those suffering from AIDS, marital status, religious belief, responsibility for dependants, social background, employment status or sexual orientation.
Racism is the combination of power and prejudice where prejudice relates to race or ethnic diversity in our society.
The Society proclaims that racism exists at every level or our society and the Society opposes in every all embracing and all pervasive from individual and institutional; direct and indirect.
We believe that an essential part of our existence in providing and campaigning for equal access to education, employment and advice for the elimination of poverty.
Racism is rooted in the belief of superiority of one race over another and therefore denied such equality. We therefore oppose racism so that every citizen has the right be treated equally regardless of race, creed, religion, national origin, sexuality.
As part our contribution to the elimination of racism, we committed to the following program of action; all members, workers and users are expected to observe, at all times, its spirits and content:
(i) Encourage all children to value each other’s language and culture and welcome culture diversity.
(ii) Provide opportunities for people to work together to promote a better understanding of individual experience interests.
(iii) Give equal status to all language by actively promoting bilingualism and developing mother tongue teaching.
(iv) Develop and publish materials and resources, which promote all races in a positive way; disclaim any miss information about minority group and counter stereotyping.
(v) Ensure that no applicant for employment or user is treated less favourably as a result of being HIV antibody positive.
(vi) Use, wherever possible, the positive action provisions under the Race Relation Act (section 37 and 38) and campaign and encourage others to do likewise.
Where individuals, families or organizations instigate serious and / or persistent act of racism the project will urge, when appropriate, the law enforcement, social services, educational, housing authorities to bring pressure to bring on those responsible; including consideration of criminal proceedings, custody, courts orders and eviction, where appropriate.
Simultaneously, the Society will work towards the increased collective security of the community generally, and specifically all ethnic minority communities.
Racism has a poisonous and divisive effect on society and spreads through deep ignorance. Education is the biggest enemy of ignorance.
Finally, we shall work with others to eliminate all other forms of prejudice, specifically that which effects women, young people, those that are unemployed, pensioners, people with disability, gay and lesbian, bi-sexual people, working class people and those who are HIV Antibody positive or who; have AIDS. An Equal Opportunity sub-committee has been established to monitor the development and implementation of the policy contained herein