PAMECUS - Definition of Positive Action

Positive action consists of proportionate measures undertaken with the purpose of achieving full and effective equality in practice for members of groups that are socially or economically disadvantaged, or otherwise face the consequences of past or present discrimination or disadvantage. In order to achieve this, positive action measures are designed to achieve one or more of the following goals:

  1. preventing or compensating for disadvantages and discrimination, whether these arose in the past or are still ongoing;
  2. promoting substantive equality by taking into account the specific situation of members of disadvantaged groups and breaking the cycle of disadvantage associated with membership of a particular group;
  3. redressing under-representation and promoting diversity in participation of all groups in social, economic, cultural and political life.

Positive action measures achieve these goals by influencing the way in which social goods, such as employment, education, housing or healthcare, are allocated.

Positive action covers a wide range of measures, but, in the light of EC law, it is not viewed as including automatic and unconditional preferential treatment for women (or men) in selection for employment (e.g. quotas).

Further taking into account EC legislation, positive action has a broader meaning in relation to disability, where it includes measures aimed at creating or maintaining provisions or facilities for safeguarding or promoting the integration of disabled persons into the working environment. This includes preferential treatment for disabled persons, such as quotas.

In the context of the PAMECUS Project the phrase “positive action measure” should be regarded as an umbrella term covering all kinds of activities, initiatives, strategies and interventions which seek to achieve one or more of the goals identified for positive action. The specific objectives of this project include assessing perceptions, understanding and the rationale for developing and implementing strategies for positive action covering equality strands of age, disability, race, religion and belief and sexual orientation. Aspects of gender which intersect with other strands will also be considered in this study.

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