Link between diversity, equity, affirmative action and human rights

Human rights as a concept are the basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled, merely by virtue of being human. Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” Enshrined in the Constitution, these basic rights are the foundation of what we are, and all we hope to become.

Diversity means understanding the uniqueness of each individual, and recognising those individual differences. They generally refer to:

• • Gender

• • Race

• • Ethnicity

• • Age

• • Sexual orientation

• • Socio-economic status

• • Physical abilities

• • Religious beliefs

• • Political beliefs.

In a workplace context, consideration and management of diversity are in essence a voluntary initiative by an organisation in response to the growth of diversity in the workforce and marketplace.

Equity, in a broad sense, is an attempt to apply justice in accordance with natural law – in this case seeking to redress a balance that was unduly influenced by external forces. In the workplace this is usually called Employment Equity, and the Employment Equity Act is a range of policies that encourage or require preferential treatment for particular designated groups. The Act is designed to ensure the designated groups (black people, women and people with disabilities) have:

• • Equal opportunity to get a job

• • Equal representation in all job categories and levels in the workplace

• • Their retention and development prioritised

• • Their diversity supported through equal dignity and respect.

Affirmative action (AA) is an element of the Employment Equity Act, which, according to the SA Department of Labour, ensures that qualified people from designated groups have equal opportunities in the workplace. Originally introduced to correct historic injustices by offering preferential treatment to qualified underrepresented individuals, AA is increasingly perceived as being about entitlement and reverse discrimination.

Those are the definitions, but what is the true meaning behind the words, and what are the qualities and broader understanding that they seek to bring into our lives? Is there an overriding sense of fairness that is interwoven in the fabric of our consciousness? And if so, is it on this basic level that action and legislation must be addressed?

Perhaps the answer lies in taking the reason and dignity in Human Rights and adding the understanding in Diversity. Then take some of the justice in Equity and a healthy measure of the action in Affirmative Action. Reason, dignity, understanding, justice and action – a recipe we can work with.

 

Sources

www.gov.za
www.labour.gov.za
www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights

 

(Revised by M van Deventer)