26/11/2007
This week the Scottish Parliament is holding its first Equality and Diversity Week. The aim of the week is to develop a greater understanding among members and staff of discrimination and the barriers people face to participating equally in society.
The week will also help mark the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.
The programme for the week will focus on strengthening awareness of discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief and sexual orientation.
Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP said:
"Equal opportunities is one of the Parliament’s four key founding principles and it has played a major role in shaping our modern, participative Parliament.
"The Parliament has made much progress to date in enabling equal access and participation in the decision making process. It’s important that this momentum is maintained and this is an important aim of the week.”
The Parliament’s Equality and Diversity Week also coincides with Scottish Interfaith Week and will include activity focusing on interfaith issues in Scotland today.