Decision not to make diversity a States priority ‘disappointing’

Decision not to make diversity a States priority ‘disappointing’

The Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel brought an amendment to the Common Strategic Policy this week.

But before the amendment made it to the floor of the Assembly, the Council of Ministers made their own amendment, changing it to make diversity a ‘theme’ rather than a priority.

Chief Minister John Le Fondré said he thought it was a ‘good compromise’, as not everything could be a ‘priority’.

The CSPs were, he said, ‘fairly focused on items we think really are important to the Island as a whole’.

But campaigners said, in doing so, the Council of Ministers had lost an opportunity to ensure the Island was a fair place to live for all – regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age or sexual orientation.

The council’s amendment was passed by a vote of 21–16, although 75 per cent of the 12 women in the chamber at the time voted in favour of keeping diversity a priority.

Corporate Services panel member Deputy Jess Perchard said the move felt like a ‘placating measure’.

‘Our amendment was adopted as a theme, but it was severely edited by the Council of Ministers and, in my view, reduced down to something that suggests that the need for diversity and inclusion is not fully appreciated or understood,’ she said.

‘There are risks posed by not being diverse, such as the risk posed to our reputation as a community and an island, and the loss of competitiveness when attracting talent to our boards, to leadership roles, or even to those who might have considered standing for election.’

The co-founder of the Diversity Network, Kate Wright, said where government should be leading, it was actually falling out of step with the business community.

‘It seems very sad that, on a day when it was reported that one of every two people with a disability across the Channel Islands feels there are not enough employment opportunities, a diverse and inclusive community was dismissed as a strategic priority,’ she said.

‘Inequalities facing women in business are well documented, our ageing population means that discrimination and challenges faced by older people will only grow, and lack of social mobility is preventing many of our children from being able to aspire to and progress in Jersey.’

Having diversity included at all was still a victory, said Deputy Louise Doublet, who chairs the Diversity Forum.

‘It is certainly a priority for an increasing number of Islanders who are forming groups such as the Diversity Network, Liberate, Caritas, Diversity in Change, JCRT and of course the Diversity Forum within the States Assembly,’ she said. ‘Many businesses are focusing on this area, as they know improvements make them more efficient and profitable.

‘We must take the same approach in the States Assembly if we are to effectively govern in the best interests of the whole population.’

In urging the States to reject the ministers’ amendment, the Corporate Services panel chairwoman highlighted the Island’s poor performance on diversity in senior States jobs and at the board level.

Senator Kristina Moore said only 13 per cent of director-level roles were held by women and, in terms of the diversity of boards, the information was often not even held.

‘Why? We do not know,’ she said.

The States debated the issue for roughly 12 minutes of the over six hours spent considering the government’s goals.

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