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H U M A N R I G H T S C O M M I S S I O N

P R E S E N TAT I O N B Y C AT R I O N A S C A N N E L L A N D E L L I N A G A I - R O T H E

Structural Discrimination

Structural Discrimination

Structural (often referred to as systemic)discrimination occurs when an entire network of rulesand practices disadvantages less empowered groups

while serving at the same time to advantage thedominant group.

*State Services Commission

Project Phases

Secondary source research and literature reviewInterviews and in-person meetings, inter-agency

workshopsPresentation of discussion paper at 2011 Diversity

ForumFurther feedback and discussion Report – April 2012Ongoing conversations

Context

Public attitudes / individual racismDeficit theoriesSocio-economic factorsTreaty of Waitangi

Structural Discrimination in Health

Unconscious bias of health practitioners E.g. doctors spend 17% less time (2

minutes out of a 12 minute consultation) interviewing Māori than non-Māori patients

Under representation of Māori and Pacific in the health workforce Only 3% of the nearly 60,000 people

employed by DHBs are Pacific peoples

Structural Discrimination in Education

Educational achievement disparities“One size fits all” approach within mainstream

schoolsImportance of policy and

practice that is culturally appropriate and culturally responsive

Structural Discrimination in Justice

Nature (values) and practice (bias) of the justice system perpetuates structural discrimination

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 20150

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MāoriLinear (Māori)PacificLinear (Pacific)Other

“This is utterly unacceptable. Is it systemic bias? Is it the result of long term cultural disadvantage? It’s probably both” Judge Andrew Becroft (2011)

Structural Discrimination in the Public Service

Lack of ethnic representation in senior management 8.3% Māori; 1.7% Asian; 1.5%

Pacific “‘target groups’ are simply

added to the existing dominant power structure but the essential qualities of the structure remain the same.”

Structural Discrimination in the Economic System

Unemployment, income disparities

Access to qualifications for Māori and Pacific

Direct discrimination against Asian people in the labour market

The Māori Economic Taskforce in 2009

The government’s role in supporting economic growth

Common Elements of Structural Discrimination

Entrenched inequalities

Cumulative effect within systems

Biased practice

Universal provision of public services assumes

everyone has equal access to services

Inaction or absence of initiatives

Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety

Avenue to address embedded health disparities, including unconscious bias of health practitioners

Te Kotahitanga

Focuses on culturally responsive teaching pedagogy, critical teacher self-reflection and power-sharing

“Power imbalances need to be examined by educators at all levels in terms of their own cultural assumptions and a consideration of how they might be participants in the systematic marginalization of students in their classrooms, their schools and the wider system.” Russell Bishop

Neighbourhood Policing Counties Manukau

Preventative and proactive focus

Reliant on constructive relationships with communities and government

Rangatahi Courts and Pasifika Youth Court

Rangatahi Courts first launched May 2008, there are now 7 and one Pasifika Youth Court in Mangare

“to make justice what it should be – a partnership between the courts and the community, each dependent on each other “

Māori Focus Units

First established 1997, evaluation report published 2009

“Participants in a culturally-enhanced cognitive-behavioural programme do indeed demonstrate change in terms of criminal thinking”

NZ Police Ethnic Strategy towards 2010

One of the first ethnic strategies developed by a NZ government agency

Won Institute of Public Administration Award for Excellence in recognising ethnic diversity, 2011

Whānau Ora

Asks agencies to “commit to a new way of working with whānau”

Has the potential to “revitalise the whānau”

Common Elements - Promising Responses to Structural Discrimination

Collaboration between and amongst government agencies

Understanding of what structural discrimination is and a commitment to addressing it

Meaningful partnership and consultation with Maori, Pacific and ethnic communities

Targeted programmesDeveloping and sustaining evaluation processes