In October 2020, our Governing Board shared with our National Associations an anti-discrimination and inclusion plan. This was to recognise and bring together different initiatives that were already underway, including those from two key working groups: Gender, Sexuality and Romantic Diversity Inclusion; and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Out of that action plan came the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Implementation Team to co-ordinate and share best practice between existing efforts, Chapter Development and our International Junior Branch.
The DEI Implementation Team has proposed and agreed the collective term for our efforts: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. And together has co-created the opening statement to the DEI section, making sure to listen to a wide range of voices and lived experience in it’s development.
Training
We added a dedicated module to our Safeguarding Training which provides basic aspects of cultural sensitivity and introduces various elements of diversity through examples and activities.
Storytelling Project
In late June 2021, our Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group launched a Storytelling Project. Its aim is to increase our awareness and understanding of racism, discrimination, and bigotry experienced within our organization and programmes so that we can create solutions. CISVers past and present who are comfortable sharing their stories can read our submission guidelines here. The deadline for the project has been extended to August 28, 2021.
Recruitment for Paid International Roles
From the end of July 2021, we piloted:
- the use of so called ‘anonymous recruitment’ where, names and other identifying information is removed before the recruiting officer or manager sees it to reduce unconscious bias in candidate selection; and
- using an equal opportunities monitoring form (which is voluntary and anonymous for candidates to fill in).
As of November 2021 we are also considering this for the recruitment of our international volunteers.