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The discrimination observatory complements the analyses of the Défenseur des droits and is part of the action plan relaunched by the Comité Opérationnel de lutte contre le Racisme, l'Antisémitisme et la Haine anti-LGBT (CORAH), in a drive to improve the life paths of people affected by discrimination.
Why set up a Discrimination Observatory in Montpellier?
Defining discrimination
The term "discrimination" often brings to mind racism or sexism. In reality, these 2 criteria are the trees that hide the forest: there are 25 discrimination criteria in France: state of health, disability, genetic characteristics, single parenthood, vulnerability, place of residence...
Also, a common mistake is to associate a negative intention with a discriminatory act. This is not always the case: it is possible to discriminate without intending to do so. For example, a place that does not comply with PRM (People with Reduced Mobility) standards de facto excludes a certain number of users, which is discrimination under the law. However, this is not necessarily the result of a desire to exclude disabled people. It may simply result from a lack of information, awareness or resources.
The Montpellier Discrimination Observatory started from this observation: discrimination is poorly known and is very often taboo. While everyone agrees on the main principles of the fight against discrimination, it is often more difficult to examine specific practices in detail.
Thanks to methods derived from the social sciences, the Observatory conducts research based on the different situations of discrimination that may be experienced in Montpellier, attempting to address all discrimination criteria in thematic and cross-disciplinary research. The first results focus in particular on the dematerialization of public services, discrimination suffered by single-parent families and the inclusion of disability in "Politique de la Ville" (QPV) priority neighborhoods.
Research results
The Observatory produces sociological work enabling a better understanding of the dynamics at work in the city of Montpellier. This research is then used to make recommendations for social policies to combat discrimination and make life easier for people whose lives are affected by discrimination.
Annual report
The Observatory produces an annual report and scientific articles. It communicates its findings in the form of awareness-raising for public policy players, as well as through study days and media aimed at the general public (podcasts, video capsules...).
Scope of action
L'Observatoire des discriminations de Montpellier is organized around 4 objectives:
- the production of original, localized research on discrimination phenomena in Montpellier,
- support for local public anti-discrimination policies,
- the dissemination of content (films, podcasts, conferences) designed to raise awareness among the general public, inform professionals.le.s (annual study days), and encourage networking and co-construction of actions aimed at limiting discrimination,
- watch for inspiring anti-discrimination practices developed on a national and international scale.
The main fields of research:
- discrimination suffered by single-parent families,
- the discriminatory effects of the dematerialization of public service,
- segregative effects in the field of housing,
- discrimination suffered by people with disabilities in QPVs (priority urban policy districts),
- discrimination suffered by women and young graduates.e.s residing in QPVs in access to employment and training.
History
In 2017, in collaboration with the LEIRIS laboratory at Université Paul Valéry Montpellier III, the City of Montpellier set up a research-action group on discrimination to gain up-to-date local knowledge on the subject.
Based on statistical analyses and interviews with people suffering discrimination (field players; institutional managers; private players), the group conducted 6 studies :
- discriminations linked to the dematerialization of public services;
- discriminations suffered by single-parent families;
- discriminations suffered by people with disabilities ;
- discrimination in access to training and employment for young graduates living in QPVs;
- discrimination in access to training and employment for women living in QPVs;
- discrimination in access to public and private housing.
In the dynamic of each study, recommendations were issued to feed into public policy, change behavior and remedy the impact of discrimination.
Following this first diagnostic stage, the City of Montpellier, supported by the State and the partners who signed the city contract, set up in December 2021, again in partnership with Paul Valéry University, a Discrimination Observatory in the Montpellier area.
This observatory is now a support to accompany the operational implementation of good practices in the area. It continues its research and regularly publishes study updates, in order to measure the impact of public policies and to have constantly updated data.