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PDA Equalities Council meets ahead of Human Rights Day

The Equalities Council is part of the PDA’s democratic structure and is made up of the Presidents of the PDA’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Networks. The aim of the Equalities Council is for members to learn from each other and to work together around intersectional issues.

Fri 6th January 2023 The PDA

The second meeting of the Equalities Council was held ahead of Human Rights Day which is observed annually on 10 December. It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document, proclaiming the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The theme for 2022 was ‘Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All.’

Since the last meeting, highlights from the PDA LGBT+ Network included the launch of resources to update the curriculum at Schools of Pharmacy where LGBT+ inclusion is lacking, and attendance at Manchester Pride. The PDA BAME Network has seen the election of a new committee and the launch of its anti-racist pharmacy toolkit. The PDA NAWP Network has held events around Equal Pay and has affiliated to The Fawcett Society as well as attending a webinar on sexual harassment at work. The PDA Ability Network has been focusing on reasonable adjustments and has been building a supportive environment through social media and online networking events as well as attending the STUC disabled workers’ conference. The Equalities Council also saw the launch of Intersection, a newsletter bringing together the latest updates from all four EDI Networks.

Sima Hassan, newly elected President of the PDA BAME Pharmacists’ Network said, “It was great to meet all the Equalities Council members and hear about all the amazing work they have been doing to promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the pharmacy profession.”

Members also discussed intersectional issues which the Networks can focus on together, such as pay gaps, sexual harassment, and Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) at work. Additionally, Ruth Williams, PDA Legal Advisor, provided an update on equalities casework trends.

Paul Day, PDA Director said, “Through our casework, the PDA can support individual members to tackle discrimination in their workplace or place of study. Through our equality networks we are highlighting issues, providing practical resources, and promoting good practice across pharmacy. Through our affiliations to pharmacy and trade union federations such as FIP, the STUC, and ICTU, we are engaged in the wider national and international conversation about improving equality not just across the profession, but also wider society.”

 

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