Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Targeting exclusion, fighting discrimination, and promoting equality have long been overriding goals of the EU policies. However, policies need reliable standardized and comprehensive data and indicators to evaluate and monitor their effectiveness. As multi-dimensional concepts, diversity, exclusion and discrimination cannot be easily measured through traditional statistics methods and techniques. Thus, ISTAT (National Institute of Statistics) is carrying on a set of experimental surveys, within the frame of an agreement with UNAR (National Anti-Discrimination Office), in order to get high quality information on hard to reach populations, build a shared vocabulary, and design appropriate data collection techniques and tools. Two research projects are ongoing. The first one is on the situation of LGBT+ people in the labour market and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity investigated from multiple perspectives (LGBT+ people, employers and the main national stakeholders). The second is on housing condition of Roma people and it is aimed at the development of a system of indicators to evaluate and monitor inclusion policies. The survey analyzes how the improvement of housing conditions of Roma population impact on the overall inclusion indicators. The objective of the session is to discuss to effectiveness of ISTAT strategy to overcome statistical gaps on groups at risk of discrimination, by adopting innovative mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Initial results are presented.