Race equality framework for Scotland 2016 to 2030

Executive Summary

The Scottish Government is determined to show leadership in advancing race equality, tackling racism and addressing the barriers that prevent people from minority ethnic communities from realising their potential. The Race Equality Framework for Scotland sets out how the Scottish Government aims to progress this ambition over a 15-year period from 2016 to 2030.

To achieve this, the Race Equality Framework for Scotland will take a long-term, partnership-based approach, working with all sections of society including the Scottish Parliament, public sector bodies and agencies, established networks and forums, voluntary sector equality bodies and communities.

Figure 1: Ethnic breakdown of Scotland's population 2011 ^[1]

The actions needed to eradicate racism are not just for the Scottish Government alone. Every individual and organisation in Scotland needs to play their role in creating a fair and equal Scotland that protects and includes people from all backgrounds, whatever their ethnicity may be. This matters to each of us and we all have a role to play across every ethnicity, every sector and every community.

Throughout the development of the Race Equality Framework, we have used a variety of engagement activities to ensure that a wide range of organisations and individuals, from grassroots community organisations to practitioners working in the public sector, had an active role in contributing to the Framework. Each of the six themed Visions and related Goals set out in this Framework have been shaped by this involvement process.

The first of these Visions sets out the overarching ambition for race equality in Scotland which we aim to achieve by 2030 with the other themes covering a cross section of outcomes related to community cohesion and safety; participation and representation; education and lifelong learning; employability, employment and income; and health and home.

Figure 2: 100 years of race equality in Scotland