On this day, we are encouraged to reflect on and increase our awareness around the values of cultural diversity. In doing so, we can help to advance the goals outlined by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions:
- To support sustainable systems of governance for culture
- To achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services and increase the mobility of artists and cultural professionals
- To integrate culture in sustainable development frameworks
- To promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The final goal of promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms is of particular concern to the PDA as a not-for-profit organisation that aims to act upon and support the needs of pharmacists, both individually and collectively.
PDA Director Paul Day explains: “Supporting equality, diversity, and inclusion is a core part of what we do at the PDA. Far too often, issues faced by pharmacists in the workplace are caused by discrimination against them due to their race, gender, disability, or sexual identity. This is simply not acceptable and thankfully is unlawful too.
Trade unions are an important part of civic society and though we support members if they have been victims of discrimination in the workplace, our goal is to help to create a world where such incidents do not happen – prevention is better than cure.
Prejudice cannot survive proximity and greater exposure to, and appreciation for, aspects of other cultures is a positive method to build understanding and so help to reduce the causes of discriminatory behaviour.”
You are legally protected from discrimination by the Equality Act 2010 if you live in England, Scotland or Wales. You are protected whether you are permanent, full-time, part-time, or a locum. In Northern Ireland, you are protected from discrimination under the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
If a member feels that they have been discriminated against because of their race, or any other protected characteristic, they can download the PDA’s free guide to discrimination in the workplace and can seek help and advice from the PDA legal team.
The importance of equality at work for pharmacists was demonstrated earlier this year when the PDA celebrated reaching more than 1,500 members across their four Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Networks within the first year of their launch.
The four PDA EDI Networks are as follows:
- The Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Pharmacists’ (BAME) Network
- The Disabled Pharmacists’ (Ability) Network
- The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pharmacists’ (LGBT+) Network
- The National Association of Women Pharmacists (NAWP) Network.
Membership of the networks is open to all UK pharmacists and former pharmacists and all UK pharmacy graduates, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual identity, disability, nationality, hours worked, or employment status. Pharmacists do not need to identify with the networks in order to join: the PDA welcomes allies – people who will support equality and fairness for all pharmacists.
Get Involved
- More information on World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development can be found here.
- Learn about the PDA Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Networks and how you can join them, here.
- Download the PDA’s free guide to discrimination in the workplace