Do we need greater equality for

peace?

Write down some words

that describe what the
poster to the right
makes you feel. 
 PROGRESS TOWARDS GOAL 10
IN 2019
• Inequality within and among nations continues to be a significant concern
despite progress in and efforts at narrowing disparities of opportunity,
income and power. Income inequality continues to rise in many parts of
the world, even as the bottom 40 per cent of the population in many
countries has experienced positive growth rates. 
• In more than half of the 92 countries with comparable data during the
period 2011–2016, the bottom 40 per cent of the population experienced
a growth rate that was higher than the overall national average. However,
the bottom 40 per cent received less than 25 per cent of the overall
income or consumption. In many places, the increasing share of income
going to the top 1 per cent of earners is of significant concern.

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2019/goal-10/
 Percent of all income going
to top 1% 1930 - 2016

Source:  World Inequality Database

 Inequality is ‘structural’ violence
Increased inequality ups the stakes in the competition
for status... A large body of evidence shows a clear
relationship between greater inequality and higher
homicide rates. As early as 1993, criminologists Hsieh
and Pugh (1993) wrote a review with included 35
analyses of income inequality and violent crime. All but
one found a positive link between the two – as
inequality increased so did violent crime.
Wilkinson and Pickett (2009: 134) 
 A Young Person’s Experience
UNICEF’s 2007 report on child wellbeing in rich
countries contained measures of how often young
people in different countries were involved in physical
fighting, had been the victim of bullying or found that
their peers were not kind and helpful. Wilkinson and
Pickett (2009) combined these three measures into an
index of young people’s experiences of conflict and
found that it was significantly correlated with income
inequality. In more unequal societies children
experience more bullying, fights and conflict.
 Why Might This Be?
Violence is more common in more unequal societies
because the heightened importance of status makes it
even more necessary to defend our positions when we
feel disrespected or suffer real (or imagined) slight from
near equals. Concern with social status is inevitably
about how others see us, about respect, about being
thought well of, being looked up to rather than down
on.  
Wilkinson and Pickett (2018:144)
We can see that the association between inequality and
violence is strong and consistent: it’s been
demonstrated in many different time periods and
settings. Recent evidence of the close correlation
between ups and downs in inequality and violence
show that if inequality is lessened , levels of violence
also decline. And the evolutionary importance of
shame and humiliation provides a plausible explanation
of why more unequal societies suffer more violence. 
Wilkinson and Pickett (2009: 144)
The #End Violence Youth Manifesto
Overarching principles
Diversity and tolerance
• Equality is the foundation of promoting diversity and tolerance in schools.
Equality should be taught and demonstrated at home and reinforced in
schools. We must recognize that we are all equal. Our differences,
including culture, gender, identity, disability, sexual orientation,
nationality, race, ethnicity, migration status, and religion make us unique
and should be celebrated rather than divide us. Our curricula, teachers,
society, media, and institutions like government, bear a responsibility to
promote, practice, teach and ensure that schools are a safe and inclusive
space for everyone. They have a responsibility to remove and prevent
stigma that holds us back from equality in the classroom and in the world.
 The Manifesto Commitment
Being kind
• We commit to being respectful and careful in how we treat our community and to
speak up when it is safe to do so. Kindness is a responsibility that begins with each
of us.
Reporting violence
• We commit to breaking taboos and the victimization around reporting violence.
We will seek out trusted authorities such as teachers, counsellors, community
representatives and other students when we witness or learn of violence in and
around school. We also commit to creating youth-led channels for reporting
violence.
Taking action
• We commit to start and support initiatives that will promote unity, curiosity, and
mutual respect at home, in school, and in our communities – including online. We
will protect each other and have each other’s backs. [#I’veGotYourBack]
 Bibliography
• Dorling, D (2017) The Equality Effect: improving life for everyone New Internationalist
• Wilkinson, R and Pickett, K (2009) The Spirit Level: why equality is better for everyone
• Wilkinson, R and Pickett, K (2018) The Inner Level: how more equal societies reduce stress,
restore sanity and improve everyone’s well-being