Equality data is of critical importance and significant interest to all those involved in this initiative. It is required to feed into the policy cycle to enhance evidence-based policy making in all relevant policy areas, addressing all the different discrimination grounds. The policy cycle encompasses policy thinking and public debate, the initial design of measures and policies, the implementation of policy measures, and the monitoring and evaluation of their impact.
Convening
Equality data is a public good, and as such is beyond the scope of any one organisation to develop and sustain. Collective effort and inter-institutional cooperation is required to realise this public good, and deploy it to identify and prevent systemic discrimination.
The national Equality Data Strategy Working Group reflects such an approach. It includes representation from public bodies, government departments, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), statistics organisations, research institutes and a civil society organisation. It is co-chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Central Statistics Office, with both sharing the secretariat.
The working group meets regularly to draft the Strategy. The plan is to develop a draft equality data strategy in 2022, and send it to the government, with publication envisaged in 2023.
Alliance building involved the mapping of relevant stakeholders and drivers for equality data, national and local, and the drawing together of these stakeholders behind a common endeavour, and the securing of their commitment to this. The Working Group emerged from this activity. The focus on common endeavour was viewed as important in securing participation, as there was a concern that some stakeholders would be left with full responsibility for delivery of a complex initiative.
The IHREC, as an ‘honest broker’, held bilateral meetings with key stakeholders such as the Central Statistics Office, government officials, research institutes and civil society organisations to understand their views on equality data and what they needed to move this agenda forward. The IHREC was able to present the stakeholders with a menu of institutional and structural, and operational activities from its work on this issue of equality data at European and national levels, to frame and structure dialogue and planning.
In building alliances for equality data, it was important to create space for the stakeholders to understand ‘each other’s worlds’ and the contributions each had to make and the opportunities each could offer. The tone for engagement has to be collegial, appreciative, respectful, non-judgemental, and fun. There were opportunities to showcase work, to develop professional knowledge and skills, and to extend professional networks.
The IHREC convened an equality data event, where members of the EU Equality Data Subgroup talked through the Guidelines developed, and discussed how they had developed equality data, sharing real world experiences. Partner organisations in Ireland, from the Working Group, met their counterparts from other organisations to share ambitions and concerns and identify challenges in moving forward on this issue.
Auditing
The Central Statistics Office undertook an equality data audit in 2020 using the tool developed by the EU Equality Data Subgroup. The audit provides an agreed baseline for talking about the state of equality data. This was based on the ‘Equality Data Diagnostic Mapping Tool’, available on the website of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights.[1]
The audit identified issues in that: only two datasets routinely and systematically collect data on the ‘Race ground’ as defined in Irish equality legislation; another 24 datasets which were marked as covering the ‘Race ground’, as defined in Irish equality legislation, actually only contain nationality or ethnicity data; membership of the Traveller Community appears only in 12 datasets; and there are significant data gaps in relation to sexual orientation and religion.
Presenting/Deploying
Establishing where the partner organisations on the working group want to take this initiative is essential, as the development and ongoing implementation and evolution of an equality data strategy can be a long road. This vision is mapped out through real world planning and a focus on institutional and operational change.
Institutional change encompasses inter-institutional cooperation on equality data, an equality data hub, capacity building, and effective use of equality data collected.
Operational change encompasses data collection, securing comprehensive and representative equality data collection, mainstreaming a focus on equality data in surveys undertaken, and validity, reliability and comparability of data collected.
Key reference document: Equality Data Audit, 2020, Central Statistics Office, Ireland.
[1] Available at: Compendium of Practices on Equality Data | European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (europa.eu).
