Pack aims to fight youth stereotypes

YOUNG people under the age of 18 should be allowed to challenge harassment or discrimination under equal status legislation, the head of the Equality Authority has urged.

The authority’s chief executive, Niall Crowley, said a resource pack to combat stereotyping of young people, launched yesterday, must be part of a wider response to the issue.

“The starting point for this wider response should be the removal of the lower age limit to the age ground as defined under the Equal Status Act,” he said.

Removing the age limit would allow the Equality Authority to challenge harassment or discrimination against young people on the grounds of age in the provision of goods and services, accommodation and education.

“This challenge will be important in addressing the impact of stereotyping of young people and in securing an end to it.”

The resource pack, developed by the authority and the National Youth Council of Ireland to encourage and support young people and young people’s organisations to challenge stereotyping, was launched by the Minister for Children, Brendan Smith. The pack was developed as a result of the findings of a study published two years ago that found young people believe they are seen in a negative light by adults.