Equal opportunities – why?

Equal opportunities – what is it?

‘Equal opportunities’ is an umbrella term for the work to counteract discrimination and promote equal rights and opportunities for all, despite our differences. Discrimination is regulated under the Discrimination Act and covers seven specific areas: legal gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation, and age.

Equal opportunities mean you cannot be excluded from education or employment simply because of your origin or religion. It may sound obvious, but it wasn’t so long ago that granting women the right to vote was controversial – something we now take for granted. The rights and opportunities you enjoy today are thanks to those who came before you and fought for them.

Time to address the situation of international staff and students at Medfarm

Our University is actively working at various levels to promote equal opportunities, including investigating risks and recommending actions. A recent example is the report ‘Gender-based violence, sexual harassment and bullying at Uppsala University’, in which Minna Salminen-Karlsson has analysed Uppsala University’s figures from a national survey.

The report shows that the differences between people born in Sweden and those born abroad are often greater than those between women and men in terms of bullying and harassment. Given MedFarm’s distinctly international profile, national background is therefore something we need to monitor closely in our ongoing equal opportunities work.

Active bystander training – a way forward

Another important aspect highlighted in Salminen-Karlsson’s report is that it is often colleagues and fellow students, rather than managers, who are responsible for harassment and bullying. Here, we all have a responsibility to act if we encounter any form of abusive or unfair treatment. However, this is easier said than done. Perhaps we fear reprisals if we act, or we may be caught off guard by the situation.

An effective way to counteract the escalation of harassment is through active bystander training, which the University will offer starting this autumn. Active bystander training provides concrete tools for acting in situations where you witness inappropriate behaviour. Research shows that minor harassment can lead to more serious issues if left unchecked. So, let us work together to create a healthy work environment!

To quote the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny – and others before him: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Anna-Karin Olsson, Professor and Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee