The Equality and Human Rights Commission opened today with the aim of making Britain a fairer, more equal place to live. A survey to mark the launch reveals the scale of its challenge, as nearly half of Britons say they have faced unfair discrimination
The Equality and Human Rights Commission opened today with the aim of making Britain a fairer, more equal place to live. A survey to mark the launch reveals the scale of its challenge, as nearly half of Britons say they have faced unfair discrimination.
The Commission, or CEHR, will provide information and practical guidance to employers, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals. It will monitor performance and enforce equality law in the areas of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and transgender status, and encourage compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998.
The CEHR was established by the Equality Act 2006 as a single equality body with responsibility for challenging discrimination across society. It replaces the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission.
The CEHR's human rights mandate requires it to promote a human rights culture, particularly ensuring that higher standards of dignity and respect are applied to those in institutional care, for example children, the elderly and those in psychiatric care.
The establishment of the CEHR follows criticism that the three previous equality Commissions were failing to use their enforcement powers to control racial, disability and sexual discrimination.
A report from the Public Interest Research Unit, published in September last year, claimed that neglect by the Commissions helped ensure that the majority of discriminators got away with committing