Equality and Diversity - Literature review Example

Equality and Diversity Name & ID Course Name & Code Instructor’s Name 30 December 2009 Equality and diversity are two terms that are related with each other, and sometimes complement each other. Equality can be defined as quality or state of being equal bringing components such as degree, quantity, ability or rank. The term equality can be used in different disciplines such as in equality before the law, social equality, gender equality, racial equality, equal opportunity and egalitarianism (HM Prison Service, 2009). On the other hand, diversity refers to unlikeness, difference, variety, or multi-formity between groups. Diversity occurs in a group of people who sometimes may not share the same characteristics, beliefs, or cultural backgrounds. Thus, it means that even though there is diversity, people should be provided with equality. Therefore, the prisons department requires appreciating the importance of diversity and equality in ensuring that the department’s stakeholders can collaborate and work efficiently (Leech & Cheney, 2002). To achieve this, equality and diversity legislations are inherent within countries or regions to ensure that equality is championed while diversity is encouraged and protected. Diversity is a common phenomenon in Ireland and Europe as a whole. Different nationalities/people in terms of culture, customs, language and religion should be considered within prisons institutions and other sectors. Ireland host numerous foreign prisoners from different parts of Europe, and thus diversity and equality legislation should be in place to ensure that framework is formed that respect, protect and appreciate diversity within prison establishments (IL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS RECOMMENDATION, 1984). This framework should ensure that prisoners are allocated to prison establishments without infringing prisoner’s diverse backgrounds. The national penitentiary system should employ the legislation in ensuring that the prisoner’s rights are championed and isolation is not encouraged (Zahid Mubarek Inquiry & Keith, 2006). Thus, the treatment in the prisons should reduce isolation while promoting social resettlement. Isolation will be reduced through passing legislations that encourages diversity and equality. The legislations will ensure that foreign prisoner’s communication is encouraged through allowing these foreign prisoners to spend their leisure time, permit them to work and to exercise together - together here refers to people from the same community or cultural backgrounds. Effective communication is important in any activity, thus putting in place legislation that reduces barriers to communication and encouraging communication that is diverse could reduce the impact of isolation (HM Prison Service, 2009). Thus, communication should ensure religion, culture, education and other fundamentals of human society are encouraged. Passing such legislations will ensure that cultural diversity within the prison is encouraged and most prisoners will efficiently be rehabilitated. The aim of any prison system is to rehabilitate the prisoners and ensure that they conform to the requirements of the society and hence the legislation policies should be in place to encourage diversity and equality (Zahid Mubarek Inquiry & Keith, 2006). Prisons host people with different nationalities; Ireland prisons may host French, Spanish or even Scottish. The cultural background of these people is different, and in most instances, their motherland (country of origin) should be told about the eventualities of her citizens. This means that legislations that are in place should consider contribution and assistance of consular authorities. The prisoners should be informed of their rights, and the contribution of their consular authorities through informing their relatives or providing any moral or economic/social assistance. Therefore, legislation that incorporates equality and diversity ensures that cultural difference is mitigated through incorporating consular authorities. Different countries have rules and regulations that govern their citizens, and sometimes may differ with the requirements of Ireland prisons. Hence, it is important to pass legislations that provide guidelines that will be used in such circumstances (IL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS RECOMMENDATION, 1984). Additionally, diversity and equality legislations set a framework that consular authorities, community agencies, and prisoners can collaborate and thus ensuring rehabilitation program is effective. The legislation set communication among the stakeholders providing that the prisoner assert to any factors or components that affects him/her. To achieve this, the equality and diversity legislation should provide a guideline that the prison staffs are trained and deployed (Baker). Without appropriate legislation, the staff cannot work effectively; for example, Ireland is an English country and at times, some prisoners may only speak Spanish. This means that the legislation may provide steps and means of ensuring that staff can speak the language of prisoners, and thus can communicate easily and effectively. Presence of multilingual staff will ensure that cultural diversity is encouraged in the entire society and prisons. Hence, equality and diversity legislation in Ireland and Europe will ensure that trained and use of prison staff is encouraged in the prisons (Leech & Cheney, 2002). Equality and diversity legislations will ensure that collection of statistics, expulsion and repatriation of prisoners is carried out in a humane way. International laws and conventions understand importance of equality, diversity and analysing requirements of affected entities. Legislations should be in place that ensures adherence to diversity and equality in the society and prisons are championed. The country of detention should analyse and decision that is made regarding the prisoners should place into consideration prisoner’s views. No matter whether based on expulsion or any other circumstance, consideration should be placed on desirability of repatriation of the prisoner with and by arrangements as stated by rules that are championed internationally (HM Prison Service, 2009). Prisoners’ rights are important even if they had infringed the rights of others. Some prisoners may be murderers or rapists, but it is important that legislations be in place that ensures that they are treated equally, and thus not bringing into consideration what they did before, but what they are supposed or expected to be in the future. Basic human rights such as freedom to worship, to educate, and to live harmoniously with their neighbours (other prisoners) should be encouraged. This can only be achieved through putting in place appropriate and effective equality and diversity legislation. These legislations ensure that cultural diversity is promoted in the society and prisons (IL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS RECOMMENDATION, 1984). In any institution to operate effectively and fulfil its expectations, it is important to set in place rules and laws that govern the institution. Numerous avenues of vices exist in the institutions, but legislations and statutory directives are in place that ensures malice is prevented. Thus, different types of legislations are required in any institution including prison departments. It is paramount for prison departments to have equality and diversity legislation that ensures staff and prisoners appreciates each other unlikeness and difference through embracing diversity. For example, racial equality legislative acts should be in place that protects against minority groups in the prisons department (Leech & Cheney, 2002). Sometimes there are people of colour in Ireland prisons, however, the Irish prisoners may use their privilege and superiority in terms of numbers to violate the principles of humanity and may result in some of prisoners of colour been maimed, killed or even psychological disturbed. Thus, presence of legislatives will ensure that all the prisoners are provided the same treatment and opportunities. Equality and diversity legislation promote cultural diversity in the society and prisons. Acceptance of cultural diversity ensures that people can live together peacefully and sometimes happily. The aim of any society and institutions is to ensure that the staff and stakeholders can operate together efficiently and effectively through putting in place framework and guidelines that champions their language, customs, beliefs, views, ideologies, and underlying factors that made them prisoners. Sometimes, diversity is beneficial to the society; however, diversity may also pose a threat to the society. Presence of equality and diversity legislation ensures that cultural diversity is nurtured. These laws may cultivate a culture of learning such that different people from different cultures can share their traditions, norms and beliefs resulting in all people understanding the likes and dislikes of the society or community (IL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS RECOMMENDATION, 1984). Acceptance of cultural diversity creates an environment of learning and sharing of its diversity. It is evident that in Ireland there are Chinese or American restaurants and businesses. The restaurants cook cuisines and foods based on culture of proprietors. Many Irish and European communities have continuously visited these locations and sampled numerous cuisines and foods (HM Prison Service, 2009). Thus, equality and diversity legislations should be in place that protects, encourage and preserve different cultures in society and prisons. Generally, legislations should be in place because it promotes cultural diversity (Zahid Mubarek Inquiry & Keith, 2006). In conclusion, prisons bring together different people from different background. Languages, religion, custom, traditions and other societal values differ resulting in diverse requirements to be fulfilled. Equality and diversity are important in encouraging different people to live, work and collaborate effectively. In prison departments, equality and diversity legislations should be in place to encourage prisoners to appreciate other people culture and ensure that the prisoners are treated fairly and equally. Raging from communication, staff training and deployment, consular authorities, to prisoner’s repatriation and expulsion requires that there should be guidelines that can be used so that conflicts are minimised or effectively resolved. Generally, equality and diversity legislations are required in prisons setting since it promotes cultural diversity in the prisons and society. Reference Baker John, Working Paper 2 Equality: What, Who, Where? Equality Studies Centre, University College Dublin. Available at http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/EqualitySocialInclusionInIreland-HomePage/Links/Filetoupload,18277,en.pdf [accessed 30 December 2009] HM Prison Service. 2009. Equality and Diversity. Available at: http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/abouttheservice/racediversity/ [accessed 30 December 2009] IL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS RECOMMENDATION No R (84) 12 OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS TO MEMBER STATES CONCERNING FOREIGN PRISONERS (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 21 June 1984 at the 374th meeting of the Ministers" Deputies) Leech, M. & Cheney, D. 2002. The prisons handbook 2002, 6th Ed. London: Waterside Press. Zahid Mubarek Inquiry & Keith, B. 2006. Report of the Zahid Mubarek Inquiry. London: The Stationery Office. Read More

This framework should ensure that prisoners are allocated to prison establishments without infringing prisoner’s diverse backgrounds. The national penitentiary system should employ the legislation in ensuring that the prisoner’s rights are championed and isolation is not encouraged (Zahid Mubarek Inquiry & Keith, 2006). Thus, the treatment in the prisons should reduce isolation while promoting social resettlement. Isolation will be reduced through passing legislations that encourages diversity and equality.

The legislations will ensure that foreign prisoner’s communication is encouraged through allowing these foreign prisoners to spend their leisure time, permit them to work and to exercise together - together here refers to people from the same community or cultural backgrounds. Effective communication is important in any activity, thus putting in place legislation that reduces barriers to communication and encouraging communication that is diverse could reduce the impact of isolation (HM Prison Service, 2009).

Thus, communication should ensure religion, culture, education and other fundamentals of human society are encouraged. Passing such legislations will ensure that cultural diversity within the prison is encouraged and most prisoners will efficiently be rehabilitated. The aim of any prison system is to rehabilitate the prisoners and ensure that they conform to the requirements of the society and hence the legislation policies should be in place to encourage diversity and equality (Zahid Mubarek Inquiry & Keith, 2006).

Prisons host people with different nationalities; Ireland prisons may host French, Spanish or even Scottish. The cultural background of these people is different, and in most instances, their motherland (country of origin) should be told about the eventualities of her citizens. This means that legislations that are in place should consider contribution and assistance of consular authorities. The prisoners should be informed of their rights, and the contribution of their consular authorities through informing their relatives or providing any moral or economic/social assistance.

Therefore, legislation that incorporates equality and diversity ensures that cultural difference is mitigated through incorporating consular authorities. Different countries have rules and regulations that govern their citizens, and sometimes may differ with the requirements of Ireland prisons. Hence, it is important to pass legislations that provide guidelines that will be used in such circumstances (IL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS RECOMMENDATION, 1984). Additionally, diversity and equality legislations set a framework that consular authorities, community agencies, and prisoners can collaborate and thus ensuring rehabilitation program is effective.

The legislation set communication among the stakeholders providing that the prisoner assert to any factors or components that affects him/her. To achieve this, the equality and diversity legislation should provide a guideline that the prison staffs are trained and deployed (Baker). Without appropriate legislation, the staff cannot work effectively; for example, Ireland is an English country and at times, some prisoners may only speak Spanish. This means that the legislation may provide steps and means of ensuring that staff can speak the language of prisoners, and thus can communicate easily and effectively.

Presence of multilingual staff will ensure that cultural diversity is encouraged in the entire society and prisons. Hence, equality and diversity legislation in Ireland and Europe will ensure that trained and use of prison staff is encouraged in the prisons (Leech & Cheney, 2002). Equality and diversity legislations will ensure that collection of statistics, expulsion and repatriation of prisoners is carried out in a humane way. International laws and conventions understand importance of equality, diversity and analysing requirements of affected entities.

Legislations should be in place that ensures adherence to diversity and equality in the society and prisons are championed.

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