HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR A L L ? Methodology Project purpose This project seeks to identify structural barriers to ethnic equality through a process of research and engagement with public service agencies, researchers, and affected groups and individuals. A key purpose is aims to prompt discussion about the interplay between components within a system as well as the interplay between systems. The starting assumption is that for interventions to be effective there needs to be a consistent approach within and across systems. to encourage discussion about successful or promising Ultimately, the project aims to encourage discussion initiatives that are intended to address inequalities about best practices for systemic change to reduce ethnic by creating systemic change. A secondary aim is to disadvantage that can be applied across different systems. facilitate discussion between government agencies to further develop ideas, share best practices and promote continued awareness and conversation about their respective efforts to address this issue. Ultimately, the project aims to recognise promising initiatives and prompt further sustainable systemic change. Through both primary and secondary source research, the paper examines what makes interventions to address structural discrimination effective and what the The structural discrimination project consists of five phases: 1. Secondary source research and literature review 2. Primary source research via interviews and in-person meetings 3. Presentation of discussion paper at the 2011 Diversity Forum ongoing challenges are to increasing effectiveness. 4. Further feedback and discussion The Commission recognises that the issue of structural 5. Final report. discrimination is complex. It is not proposing a solution to structural discrimination, nor does it expect to find a singlepoint solution through this project. The Commission simply aims to prompt discussion, provide analysis and encourage The project began by reviewing current literature about structural discrimination within the health, education, justice, economic and public service systems. The action. literature review primarily focused on New Zealand-based Project parameters appropriate. This paper serves as the starting point in a larger project that includes discussion with government agencies, community groups, academics and practitioners. The paper examines ethnic inequalities through a structural lens by focusing on four key sectors: the justice system (specifically, the criminal justice system); the education system; the health system; and the public service system. It identifies levers within the government’s influence – for example, how medical staff and educators operate within these systems, where changes in practice can serve to reduce ethnic inequalities – while also examining the value systems operating within these sectors and whether the Government is doing enough to address inequalities. Each of these systems is made up of components. The criminal justice system, for example, broadly consists of police, courts and correctional services. This paper research, but also drew from international sources where The second phase of the project involved in-person interviews with representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organisations and other relevant individuals. The Commission met with the following agencies and organisations: • Ministry of Education • Ministry of Justice • Department of Corrections • New Zealand Police • Te Puni Kökiri • Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs • Office of Ethnic Affairs • Ministry of Health 7