Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The School of Law promotes an inclusive environment, in which staff and students feel supported, valued and respected. We are proud to be a diverse community whose membership comprises a range of backgrounds and identities. Equality, diversity and inclusion are values at the core of our teaching and research activities within the school.
The school holds an Athena Swan bronze award and is committed to the university's Strategic Delivery Plan for EDI.
Work is ongoing across the school to:
- decolonise our curricula
- tackle discrimination of all kinds against the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, as well as socio-economic background, short-term conditions, and caring responsibilities
- improve staff and student wellbeing
- ensure that our school is a safe environment to work and study
- enable students and societies in advancing EDI objectives
Our latest initiatives:
- Acknowledging that women were disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, we contributed to the Faculty of Social Sciences’ ‘Supporting Women during Covid’ sphere challenge
- As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting gynaecological and reproductive health, we have enrolled in the university’s ‘Project Period’ for the distribution of free period products in our school building
- To mark International Women’s Day 2023, we organised an event on infertility, miscarriage, and child loss in collaboration with the Haven staff network
Black Lives Matter
Our community was shocked and deeply disturbed by the killing of George Floyd in the United States. More widespread structural racism continues to exist, not only in the US, but in British society and its institutions, including in higher education and our own university. In an open letter to the university sent in early June 2020, the presidents of all majority Black student societies on campus highlighted the need to do more to address race inequality at the university. The Vice Chancellor and the Pro Vice Chancellor for Equality Diversity and Inclusion have written about what the university is doing and is planning to do in this regard.
Our school stands with the Black Lives Matter movement. As a community of critical thinkers, it is our responsibility to use our voice, skills, and collective efforts to tackle racism. We work with the faculty and the university to develop and implement the university’s Race Equality Charter.
Staff are encouraged and supported to participate in the university's reverse mentoring scheme. To regularise UK minority ethnic and global majority ethnic presence in the curriculum, we are liaising with the Decolonising Network launched in January 2021 and implementing actions of the university’s action plan on Black Lives Matter. We have incorporated the topic of law and race in our core undergraduate module ‘Introduction to Law and Legal Theory’, reflecting on the origins of the BLM movement, and with a focus on the policing powers of stop and search. In addition, the school commits to enhancing the visibility of positive role models and increasing the opportunities available for Black students and staff to thrive within our community.
As part of our Athena SWAN commitments, we are making better use of data to understand and remedy the awarding gap of Black and other minority ethnic students. Our goal remains that all staff and students feel equally valued in the School of Law and develop their full potential.
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People Committee (EDIPC)
The school’s Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People (EDIPC) Committee advises the school on all matters of equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to staff and students. We oversee the school’s progress in the implementation of the Athena Swan Charter. We consider evidence-based results, such as People and Culture Surveys, embed EDI training into the school’s practice, and influence organisational and cultural change. We work with the Faculty of Social Sciences and wider university structures to review and develop appropriate policies related to equality, diversity and inclusion.
EDIPC is composed of:
- Dr Marianthi Pappa and Professor Peter Cartwright (co-directors of EDIPC, Chairs)
- Professor Olympia Bekou (Head of School)
- Sheenagh Bloomfield (Senior Operations Manager)
- Dr Chloe Holloway (Disability Liaison Officer)
- Dr Sanam Saidova (Disability Liaison Officer)
- Ms Judith Skillen (Widening Participation Lead)
- Dr Qianlan Wu (Athena Swan Lead)
- Dr Timothy Masiko (Non ex-officio Member)
- Mr Niall Ruane (Committee Administrative Support)
- Student representatives (UG, PGT, PGR)