Ethnic Equality Monitoring

A cross-departmental working group on ethnic equality monitoring was established, hosted and chaired by The Executive Office’s Racial Equality Legislation Team. The group worked with Statistics & Research Branch and the racial equality sector to produce new guidance for ethnic equality monitoring in the public sector.

Guidance for Ethnic Equality Monitoring in the Public Sector

The Guidance for Ethnic Equality Monitoring in the Public Sector is the definitive monitoring guide to assist public bodies in improving service delivery and equality of opportunity for minority ethnic and migrant populations living here. It presents a standardised monitoring framework for the collection of data, and is based on best practice, recent developments in Government Statistical Service guidance, and the 2021 Census of Population.

Public Information Video

Ethnic Equality Monitoring will be a new concept to many people here. Consequently, an animation has been developed to inform service users that they may be asked up to five questions about their ethnicity when engaging with a public authority – country of birth, national identity, ethnic group, religion, and language. The video aims to reassure people that their data will be used to improve service access and outcomes.

Cross-Departmental Working Group

The working group has a central, co-ordinating role in the planning, development, and implementation of ethnic equality monitoring here. The working group comprises representatives from each of the nine Executive departments and NISRA. Other personnel, such as legal experts, can be brought in on an ad-hoc basis when necessary.

Further information

For more information, contact the Race Relations Legislation Branch via email: rrlb@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk.