Initial Statement

The Career Development Group will endeavour to ensure that it provides equal opportunities to its members and those who attend its courses and events. The Group will not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, creed, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status. The role of the Group is to support, promote, and raise awareness of equal opportunities, and it fully supports all legislation and initiatives which aim to eradicate discrimination and inequality in the workplace and in society.

What is discrimination ? It can include harassment and victimisation. Direct discrimination is deliberate. Indirect discrimination is when an unnecessary condition or requirement is imposed, whether intentionally or inadvertently, such that the proportion of members of one group who can comply with it is considerably smaller than the proportion of other groups.

Equal Opportunities - Race

Racism is a powerful destructive force, with its belief that some 'races' are superior to others. Black people and people from many different minority ethnic communities face prejudice and stereotypes, and direct and indirect discrimination are experienced as a daily fact of life. It ranges from unequal access to services that for the most part are designed to meet the needs of the majority white community, to less favourable treatment in the recruitment process, to racist remarks and innuendo, and in its most extreme forms to racial harassment and attack.

The Career Development Group rejects racism in all its forms, from its most blatant expression to the more subtle mechanisms and structures inherent in organisations and society, such as institutional racism, and affirms its commitment to combat it.

Equal Opportunities - Creed

The Career Development Group recognises that in our society groups and individuals have been and continue to be discriminated against on the grounds of creed - 'a set of principles or opinions'. The Group will not discriminate because of creed, through recognition that society benefits from a diversity of creeds.

Equal Opportunities - Disability

There are more than 8 million disabled people in the UK, of whom 5.8 million (17% of the working population) are of working age (source: 'Disability at Work - A Managers' Information Pack' published by the London Borough of Camden Chief Executive's Department and the Employers' Forum on Disability, 1998). Fewer than 5% of disabled people are wheelchair users; disabilities cover a wide range of mobility difficulties, sensory impairment, learning difficulties and mental health problems. Disabilities can also include people with progressive or fluctuating conditions, e.g. cancer, HIV infection, MS, muscular dystrophy, and back pain.

People with a disability will have needs and wants that vary considerably. However, they all share the adverse effects of prejudice and stereotyping in the wider community that leads to inaccurate assumptions about abilities. And for many people, these adverse effects are aggravated by a physical environment that is designed by and for 'able-bodied' people, and by a neglect of particular needs in the way that services and work are organised. Thus large groups of the population are excluded from the facilities and opportunities available to others.

The Career Development Group believes that no one should suffer disadvantage by reason of their disability, and it will work towards anti-discriminatory attitudes, policies and practices.

Equal Opportunities - Age

In our society groups and individuals have been and continue to be discriminated against on the basis of age. The Career Development Group declares its total opposition to age discrimination and affirms its commitment to combat it, with its recognition that diversity in people is a resource of great value to the Library and Information profession.

Equal Opportunities - Sex

The Career Development Group recognises the various ways in which women and men are disadvantaged by the manner in which our society is organised. The roles of men and women are socially defined and strongly influenced by the power men hold. Stereotyping leads people to conform to gender roles which can inhibit individuals' abilities, preferences and aspirations.

Discrimination is direct and indirect. It ranges from unequal access to services which often do not respect the particular needs and aspirations of women, to greater difficulty in achieving advancement in the workplace due to the way in which work is organised, for example in relation to the care of dependants, to sexual harassment in the workplace, and to fear of sexual violence.

The Group therefore will not discriminate between women and men, and will ensure that opportunities are available to all to participate.

Equal Opportunities - Sexual Orientation
Current UK legislation offers no protection from discrimination for gay men, lesbians and bisexuals, as discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in employment or in the provision of services is not recognised as sex discrimination. There can be a high level of intolerance, with many gays and lesbians having the daily experience therefore of denying a major part of their own identity. To come out and be out often leads to victimisation, harassment and attack.

The Career Development Group will not tolerate discrimination on these grounds and will take action towards ensuring equal opportunities.

This statement will be reviewed periodically