Members call upon RCVS to investigate structural racism
Members call upon RCVS to investigate structural racism
The Issue
To Niall Connell President of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons,
In light of George Floyd’s recent murder, we the countersigned call upon the RCVS to take urgent action to tackle racism that is an unacceptable but real part of veterinary medicine. Many other industries are pausing to understand the ways in which institutionalised and systemic racism prevails in their industry and as future and current veterinary professionals we recognise that it is our moral duty to denounce George's death, the police brutality seen against protesters and stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Our peers have given testimony that they suffer racism from colleagues, clients, other students and lecturers
That the RCVS has publicly made a statement is only the first step. We need action and not just words.
We urge the RCVS to reiterate and enforce the veterinary code of conduct:
17.5 Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses should be aware of and adhere to all of their responsibilities as set out in the relevant equalities legislation and should take steps to challenge unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation where it arises.
We suggest that the RCVS conduct and resource an in depth review to investigate how racism pervades veterinary medicine and how structural disadvantage can be dismantled in veterinary organisations, businesses and vet schools. We are the whitest profession in the UK 3% of veterinary professionals identify as BAME in our industry (the national average of other ethnic workers is 14.4%).
How can practices and universities implement anti-racism into the curriculum or CPD programs? How can we identify racism in practice and what tools must we be equipped with to deal with it?
Using the 2006 AVMA report entitled “Unity Through Diversity” other suggestions could include:
The Royal college would utilise its extensive platform to ask Black and ME students and peers what barriers they face and how discrimination can impacted their journey in veterinary medicine. Only when we have this information we can inform ourselves on how to reform effectively.
The Royal college needs to provide transparency as to how they intend to ensure all representative groups from marginalised communities (such as BVEDS) are included and given voice in the Inclusion and Diversity working group.
The Royal College should invest in programs and initiatives designed to support individuals whose access to educational resources are denied with a view to increasing RCVS admissions and job retention from within the Black and other EM community.
The Royal College would ensure cultural competence training is compulsory for all RCVS staff, and board members and that checks are carried out to ensure the RCVS members are not actively engaging in racism, consciously or subconsciously.
The Royal College would recognise that other medical professions are already on this journey and look to institutions such as The Royal College of Nurses, The British Medical Association or the British Dental Association who have diversity programs and charters in place currently.
Structural racism has blighted our profession for some time, and we are late to the table in our commitment to dismantle it, we cannot remain silent on this issue without becoming complicit. We look to the RCVS to begin, and be transparent with, a programme that guides and supports its members on future anti racism work and tangible support for our Black and other EM members.
This petition is signed by Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Students, Veterinary Nurses, and other members of veterinary industry.
References
BAME representation in VetMed: https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/184/3/81.full
RCVS Code of Conduct: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/#rcvs
AVMA report “Diversity Through Unity” https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/resources/diversity_report.pdf
British Veterinary Ethnicity & Diversity Society: https://bveds.com/
Employment stats: https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/work-pay-and-benefits/employment/employment/latest
BDA diversity: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/representingyou/
1,279
The Issue
To Niall Connell President of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons,
In light of George Floyd’s recent murder, we the countersigned call upon the RCVS to take urgent action to tackle racism that is an unacceptable but real part of veterinary medicine. Many other industries are pausing to understand the ways in which institutionalised and systemic racism prevails in their industry and as future and current veterinary professionals we recognise that it is our moral duty to denounce George's death, the police brutality seen against protesters and stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Our peers have given testimony that they suffer racism from colleagues, clients, other students and lecturers
That the RCVS has publicly made a statement is only the first step. We need action and not just words.
We urge the RCVS to reiterate and enforce the veterinary code of conduct:
17.5 Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses should be aware of and adhere to all of their responsibilities as set out in the relevant equalities legislation and should take steps to challenge unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation where it arises.
We suggest that the RCVS conduct and resource an in depth review to investigate how racism pervades veterinary medicine and how structural disadvantage can be dismantled in veterinary organisations, businesses and vet schools. We are the whitest profession in the UK 3% of veterinary professionals identify as BAME in our industry (the national average of other ethnic workers is 14.4%).
How can practices and universities implement anti-racism into the curriculum or CPD programs? How can we identify racism in practice and what tools must we be equipped with to deal with it?
Using the 2006 AVMA report entitled “Unity Through Diversity” other suggestions could include:
The Royal college would utilise its extensive platform to ask Black and ME students and peers what barriers they face and how discrimination can impacted their journey in veterinary medicine. Only when we have this information we can inform ourselves on how to reform effectively.
The Royal college needs to provide transparency as to how they intend to ensure all representative groups from marginalised communities (such as BVEDS) are included and given voice in the Inclusion and Diversity working group.
The Royal College should invest in programs and initiatives designed to support individuals whose access to educational resources are denied with a view to increasing RCVS admissions and job retention from within the Black and other EM community.
The Royal College would ensure cultural competence training is compulsory for all RCVS staff, and board members and that checks are carried out to ensure the RCVS members are not actively engaging in racism, consciously or subconsciously.
The Royal College would recognise that other medical professions are already on this journey and look to institutions such as The Royal College of Nurses, The British Medical Association or the British Dental Association who have diversity programs and charters in place currently.
Structural racism has blighted our profession for some time, and we are late to the table in our commitment to dismantle it, we cannot remain silent on this issue without becoming complicit. We look to the RCVS to begin, and be transparent with, a programme that guides and supports its members on future anti racism work and tangible support for our Black and other EM members.
This petition is signed by Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Students, Veterinary Nurses, and other members of veterinary industry.
References
BAME representation in VetMed: https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/184/3/81.full
RCVS Code of Conduct: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/#rcvs
AVMA report “Diversity Through Unity” https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/resources/diversity_report.pdf
British Veterinary Ethnicity & Diversity Society: https://bveds.com/
Employment stats: https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/work-pay-and-benefits/employment/employment/latest
BDA diversity: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/representingyou/
1,279
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Petition created on 10 June 2020