Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
At Swiss HEMA we have the desire to promote the appeal of the sport and activities we love into the wider-society. We believe it is beneficial to all involved when HEMA participation is representative of the communities where we are based and when any member of those communities might consider HEMA as an activity suitable for them. Indeed, diversity is vital for the future development of HEMA (some would say a part of its definition) and is closely connected with the need to create an inclusive environment. One where all our participants, instructors, volunteers and member club administrators feel equally valued and able to contribute to their full potential.
Swiss HEMA’s Openness & Safeguarding Commitment requires that we project and embody a message of openness and inclusion. Welcoming people from all backgrounds, regardless of factors like ability, gender, sexual orientation, age, origins or ethnicity, and take a stance to broaden and deepen the diversity of HEMA participation so that anyone may freely participate in member clubs’ trainings, events and other activities.
However, to do so, across all our activities, we – as a federation, as member clubs and as individuals – must make conscious efforts to ensure equality, respect for diversity, and support more inclusion.
- Equality is about creating ‘fairness’. Making sure that we are treating people fairly and that everyone has equal opportunity to participate and fulfil their potential. It is not about treating everyone the same. Equality means that we recognise and acknowledge that people are different and that those differences require us to meet their needs differently.
- Diversity is concerned with representation and valuing individuals for the different perspectives they have to offer. It means recognising, valuing and respecting someone’s background, knowledge, skills and experiences, and placing a positive value on differences and individual life experiences.
- Inclusion means ensuring that everybody has a voice and a means to participate. It is the act of making all people within a society feel valued and included. Inclusion is the process of removing barriers to participation and learning so that everyone can benefit from the opportunities on offer. Inclusion is about the culture of our clubs and is everyone’s responsibility.
To deliver on our ambition to be truly open the O&S Commission has identified the need for action in five main areas:
- Swiss HEMA looks, feels and is open: The way people perceive our sport is key to them choosing HEMA against many competing activities and demands on their time. Anyone engaging with it, in any place or across any medium, should feel like it is for people like me.
- Inclusive leadership and governance: Role-modelling and driving the right behaviours from the top down and setting expectations for those in leadership roles across Swiss HEMA members; making sure that there are approaches in place, so that being open is at the heart of everything we do.
- People empowered to be inclusive: Building greater understanding of inclusion and the capability to be inclusive, while at the same time creating the conditions that enable everyone participating to feel confident in sharing their own experiences and to challenge non-inclusive behaviour.
- Targeted interventions for greater diversity: Specific interventions, beyond the focus on inclusion, to drive more rapid changes in diversity where they are most needed.
- Holding ourselves to account: Having in place approaches to safeguard the individual rights of HEMA participants who believe they have suffered harassment, prejudice or discrimination. Making sure that we have the information to report openly on our progress and being transparent in order to learn from both where we do well and where we are weaker (see the Safeguarding page).
To support one or more of these areas, the O&S Commission strives to implement a variety of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives. They are targeted towards helping member clubs’ in their openness efforts, aiding HEMA practitioners, and in opening up to the wider-community. They include: campaigns, promotional materials, assessments, member club resources, and training opportunities. All are linked under the familiar motto ‘One for All, All for One’ to embody the camaraderie underlying Swiss HEMA’s equality, diversity and inclusion aims. To assist our members we have prepared a guide on developing an ‘Open Club’ for Swiss HEMA members, an example club code of conduct, and a downloadable poster. Or show your support with the branded items available through the Swiss HEMA Shop.
Please use the tabs or these links to view our ongoing and developing Openness initiatives: Women’s Participation, LGBTQ+, Promoting Diversity, and Event Support.
