What is socio- economic discrimination?
ATD Ireland are part of an alliance called #addthe10th. The purpose of this group is to have socio- economic status recognized as the tenth ground of discrimination in Irish equality legislation, namely the Equal Status Act and the Employment Equality Act. The add the tenth alliance is made up of All Together in Dignity Ireland, Association for Higher Education, Access and Disability, Community Action Network, Free Legal Advice Centres, European Anti- Poverty Network, Independent Living Movement Ireland and Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed. There are currently nine grounds of discrimination set out in equality legislation including gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, membership of the Traveller community and race. The exclusion of socio- economic status represents a significant gap, and those with an experience of poverty “constantly fall through the cracks” of equality legislation. – Community activist Andrew.
Those experiencing this form of discrimination currently have no way of seeking any form of legal redress and have no protection in the law. Socio- economic discrimination can occur in many forms and can be experienced both individually and collectively. It is often felt within public services, such as in healthcare, housing and accommodation, when seeking employment, education, social welfare, or with the police.According to Sarah Ganty, an Academic researcher at Ghent University and Yale Law School, “for most of the discrimination grounds there is a perception of structural disadvantage between groups. As it comes to poverty, the general perception is moralistic: poverty is considered as individual failure as a consequence of bad choices.”
Those with a lived experience also report everyday incidences of discrimination as a result of their accent, clothing, haircut, address, employment status, etc. People report not being able to get a taxi to their home, being followed around in stores or being refused service in a restaurant. The stigma and shame that results from discrimination has huge effects on mental health and wellbeing. In addition, it can also enormously restrict a person’s life and opportunities.
“Current labour market practices, social welfare conditionality and neoliberal work-centric attitudes have gradually engendered barriers for those in, or approaching poverty, to rights and social inclusion”. – Addthe10th alliance
“Does it only happen to me?” The ATD Ireland report on socio- economic discrimination
The report, “Does It Only Happen to Me? Living in the shadows of Socio-Economic Discrimination” was launched on Wednesday 18th September by Senator Lynn Ruane at an event prepared by All Together in Dignity Ireland. This report arose from a number of workshops or focus groups with local groups in the Dublin area, as well as individual interviews conducted by ATD staff and volunteers. These conversations took place with people with lived experience of poverty and socio – economic discrimination. Aside from discussion, other visual tools were also used such as the use of coloured cards. From February to June 2019, a total of eight focus group discussions and six individual interviews were conducted. Approximately 60 participants had their stories/experiences recorded, with the majority involved in community, training or therapeutic groups in the north inner-city area of Dublin. Four organisations welcomed ATD facilitators for focus group discussions. This report resulted in 19 recommendations to government and calls on the Government and the Oireachtas to speed up the passage of the Private Members Bill introducing the recognition of a tenth ground of discrimination in the Irish Equal Status Act. Read an article about the report launch and read the full ‘Does it only happen to me?’ report here.
“Discrimination is in everything – not just schools or taxis or buses. It’s everywhere – it’s out on the streets and it’s not nice you know. The way I see it is that it’s a disregard for people, that people can be overlooked because there’s a stereotype that’s being reinforced”.
Meeting with Minister Roderic O’Gorman
On June 16th, the #addthe10th alliance, including ATD community activist Andrew, met with Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O Gorman. In this meeting, Andrew addressed the minister with a real-life account of socio- economic discrimination as experienced by him and others, and what he believes needs to change.
“I had nightmares for weeks that my child was being took off me. Not a nice experience for a new mom.”
“The stigma and shame of living in poverty actually hurts me when I’m walking down the street”.
“I just wanted to highlight the massive link between being discriminated against, shouldering shame and stigma and the effect on mental health. It really hurts to the point where it can give you a mental health disorder, bringing the tenth ground could be a way to reduce depression and suicide”.
Read the full article about this meeting here.
Add #the10thalliance submission to government
The addthe10th alliance are currently drafting a collective submission to the government consultation for an upcoming review of the equality acts. This submission includes quotes from research carried out with people with lived experience of socio- economic discrimination, including “Does It Only Happen To Me: Living in the shadows of Socio- Economic Discrimination” and the “Leave No One Behind Conversations”.
The current equality legislation has not been reviewed in twenty years and “there are now several serious questions about whether these equality instruments meet our obligations under European and international law, or provide an effective remedy to those who experience discrimination or mistreatment while engaging with the labour market, or with private and public services in our country”. This campaign is part of a global movement to have socio- economic status recognised as the tenth ground of discrimination and Irish equality legislation should be brought into line with twenty of the thirty- five European member states who have already included it.
The addthe10th alliance is also seeking for the government to overhaul how those who have experienced discrimination based on any of the grounds seek legal redress. The fact that cases taken under the Equal Status Act have been falling year on year clearly demonstrates that the workplace relations commission has not been working effectively and is not accessible for the majority of people. The WRC does not clearly promote its role, staff are not trained on issues of diversity, and the online complaints procedure can be difficult to navigate for those without legal support.
The submission put together by the #addthe10th alliance also sets out the need for reinvestment in community organisations and their importance in providing “reflective spaces” where “people can go to articulate their lived individual and collective experiences”. Community organisations also provide an important role in raising awareness of the legislation and ensuring individuals are aware of their rights.
The current legislation also does not adequately address the intersectionality between the grounds. It is quite common for someone to experience multiple types of discrimination at once, for example one could be discriminated against based on race and socio- economic status. However, the current legislation only permits a complaint to formed based on one ground. “But what happens for people who feel that it is the combination of identities, the cumulative impact of lived experiences that has led to the negative experience for which they are seeking redress?”
Read the full submission here.
17th October 2021
ATD have begun to promote this campaign within various projects and events. The 17th of October UN day for the eradication of poverty event in Dublin featured a dramatic presentation where 9 people donning white masks held a jigsaw piece each representing a different ground of discrimination. However, one individual wearing black and a red mask held a jigsaw piece stating socio- economic status. The Jigsaw pieces represent the interconnectivity between the grounds, and the missing piece represents the need to extend the Irish Equality Legislation to include a 10th ground.
Socio- economic discrimination: Through the creative lens
We also highlighted this campaign at our recent creative exhibition “Socio- Economic Discrimination: Through the creative lens”. At this exhibition we featured the jigsaw piece display, information on the legislation and the need for a new ground and the video showing the presentation on October 17th.
This exhibition featured outputs from two interrelated creative projects, Lockdown Liberties and SED art workshops. The purpose of the art workshops in particular was to uncover real life experiences of poverty and socio- economic discrimination. This artwork helped to uncover the lesser-known impacts of socio- economic discrimination such as on mental health and self- esteem, stigma from the media, isolation and inequality. However, it also showed the underappreciated talents and creativity of those who experience discrimination and the artwork also portrayed ideas of community and solidary, knowledge, love and hope.
Read more about this exhibition here: https://www.atdireland.ie/wp/socio-economic-discrimination-through-the-creative-lens/
We have also exhibited the add the tenth jigsaw display at the working-class writer’s conference along with the Lockdown Liberties book. We hope to continue to feature it in future projects and continue to highlight the voice of those who experience poverty and socio- economic discrimination on a daily basis.
ATD Fourth World’s work on socio- economic discrimination at a European level
Protection against socio- economic discrimination has been in place in French law since 2016. Discrimination on the ground of particular vulnerability resulting from economic situation is now recognised as one of the 25 grounds. Discrimination based on socio- economic status is also prohibited in Belgium and Hungary. So far there have not yet been many cases of socio- economic discrimination brought to justice courts. However, this is increasing in France where “more and more cases are being treated by the Defender of Rights”- Bert Luyts (ATD Europe).
In Belgium, ATD community activists had an opportunity to have a discussion with Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. Within this conversation the activists set out their experiences of socio- economic discrimination in housing, healthcare, education and employment, and the personal impacts it has had on them. An important takeaway from this discussion is that, while protection in the law is important and necessary, it has to occur alongside widespread societal and attitudinal changes to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
“You have a law, but it’s about how it’s understood and applied”.
See the video of this discussion here: https://youtu.be/MEvzeIWFZGg
Protection against socio- economic discrimination is evident at European level in article 14 and Protocol 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It is also present in article 21 in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
ATD Fourth World are currently making recommendations as to how the European Union could strengthen the rights of those at risk of socio- economic discrimination. ATD Europe at present have a proposal for the EU and the Fundamental Rights Agency to undertake an EU wide assessment of socio- economic status in the Member States and of protection provided by legislations and institutions.
If you would like to get involved in the #addthe10th campaign contact dann@atdireland.ie or call 01 855 81 91, and use the #addthe10th hashtag on social media!
