Social Inclusion, Integration and Citizenship

The Commission for Equality and Human Rights

The Commission for Equality and Human Right (CEHR) is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006. It will enforce equality legislation on age, disability and health, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status, and encourage compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998.

The CEHR will bring together the work of the three existing Commissions, the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). In addition the CEHR will have new powers to enforce legislation more effectively and promote equality for all. It will also promote awareness and understanding of human rights and encourage good practice by public authorities in meeting their Human Rights Act obligations. New powers on human rights cases are expected to bolser the claims of many minorities suffering discrimination.

The Commission will cover England, Scotland and Wales. In Scotland and Wales there will be statutory committees responsible for the work of the CEHR.

To simplify and clarify equalities legislation a Single Equalities Bill is to be put before parliament bringing together the different strands. The Discrimination Law Review was launched in 2005 to consult on the proposed legislation and undertake a fundatmental review. Its consulation process closed on the 4th September 2007. See MRN's contribution to the consultation here.

An Equalities Review was held at the same time as the Discrimination Law Review. It was intended to develop a consistent understanding of nequality an dwhat to do about it in the UK. Its final report Fairness and Freedom was published in February 2007. It discusses aspects and trends surrounding equality and argues for a new definition of an equal society as one which "protects and promotes equal, real freedom and substantive opportunity to live in the ways people value and would choose, so that everyone can flourish" and an equal society also "recognises people’s different needs, situations and goals and removes the barriers that limit what people can do and can be".

The Equalities Act 2006 can be found here

The Human Rights Act 1998 can be found here

The following websites may also be useful:

The Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) website

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) website

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) website

Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) website

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