DIHR and diversity in the workplace

Work plays a crucial role for most people. But not everyone enjoy equal opportunity for participating in working life. Gender, as well as ethinc origin, age, sexual orientation, disability and religion all influence our possibilities. Unfortunately they are often grounds of discrimination as well.
On the basis of the two EU-directives on equal treatment and with support from the EU, The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) in 2003 launched a comprehensive project about diversity and equal opportunities in the workplace. To this day, the project has published books and compliance tools, offered consultancy to companies, maintained a webpage and of course we have hosted an annual MIA award in various cities in Denmark. MIA is the Danish acronym for Diversity In Working life.

You can read more about the award here.

The overall message of the MIA-project is: "Stop discrimination and use human differences as a resource for business and society". As such, the MIA-project is not only about legislation and problems of discrimination. It is also a positive vision of a society made strong and innovative through plurality and inclusiveness. Companies are important institutions for social development and change. The idea of the project is to target companies to raise awareness about discrimination and promote diversity in this area as well as other areas of society.

The diversity award
A diversity award for leadership - named the MIA-award - was instituted in 2003 and presented to three companies at a festive award event each year.
The three principles for diversity that companies should respect to qualify for the MIA-award are:

The Principle of Rights: Ensure equal opportunities and prevent discrimination for all employees in all phases of their employment.
The Principle of Resource: Make diversity a resource in every aspect of the workplace's actions.
The Principle of results: Ensure a results oriented diversity process that includes both minority and target groups in strategy.