Actions to improve racial equality

A new plan will positively impact the lives of people from minority ethnic communities, as part of Scotland’s recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Immediate Priorities Plan for race equality focuses on the roots of inequalities which disproportionately impact minority ethnic communities.

The plan – which will run till 2023 – includes investing in services tailored for communities. For example, mental health initiatives and associations, ensuring equal participation and adequate support to progress in the workplace, continuing the roll out of the emergency sustenance funding assisting low-income families as part of pandemic recovery.

Other actions include:

• work to ensure minority ethnic people are properly represented and included in data collected and used by public bodies
• curriculum reform and work to diversify the teaching profession.
• creation of a long-term strategy that addresses structural and organisational racism

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie said:

“For many people from minority ethnic communities in Scotland, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed, or worsened, existing inequalities in society. It is vital that our response tackles those inequalities and their causes head-on.

“The Expert Reference Group on COVID-19 and Ethnicity provided us with the scrutiny, challenge and expertise that we needed to ensure that we deliver for minority ethnic Scots.

“Our Immediate Priorities Plan for Race Equality in Scotland highlights the actions we are taking across government. This work includes our recovery from the pandemic, and also includes areas as diverse as our wider health priorities, education, housing, fair work, poverty and social security.

“It is effectively providing us with a route map of where we are now and where we want to be in 18 months’ time”.

Background:

Race equality: immediate priorities plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Race equality action plan: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Race equality framework for Scotland 2016 to 2030 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)