What has the Government achieved on Equality...?
In General...
- Initiated the biggest review of our equality institutions in the last 25 years.
- Through the Equality Act 2006, established the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, which will challenge unlawful discrimination and help protect individuals’ rights to fair treatment.
- Initiated the Discrimination Law Review in February 2005 to undertake a fundamental review of all equality legislation and bring forward proposals for a clearer and more streamlined equality legislation framework, which produces better outcomes for those who experience disadvantage. A Green Paper 'A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain' was published in June 2007 and the consultation closed on 4 September 2007. The Government is now considering all the responses received.
- In July established the Government Equality Office to strengthen further the Government's ability to deliver across the entire equalities agenda.
On Race...
- Built on the Race Relations Act 1976 by passing the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The 2000 Act extended the scope of the original Act, by making it clear that bodies carrying out public functions are not permitted to discriminate on racial grounds, and must in fact combat unlawful racial discrimination. The 2000 Act placed a general duty on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity; and good relations between people of different racial groups. Around 43,000 public bodies are now subject to this duty.
- The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 also introduced certain specific duties to support better performance of the general duty. These specific duties, which apply to most public authorities, are to: undertake ethnic monitoring of workforces, including recruitment and progression; assess the impact of policies and services on race equality externally; and prepare a race equality scheme showing how the public authority is carrying out the general duty.
- Implemented Council Directive 2000/43 EC, “The Race Directive”, through the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003, which introduced an express statutory prohibition of harassment on the grounds of a person’s race or ethnic or national origins, amended the definition of indirect discrimination, changed the burden of proof, and made other changes.
On Religion and Belief...
- Implemented the principle of equal treatment in employment and training, irrespective of religion or belief through the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. These Regulations prohibit discrimination in employment and vocational training on the grounds of religion or belief, including where the discrimination occurs because of a person’s lack of religion or belief. The Regulations provide protection from direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, victimisation and harassment.
- Introduced provisions contained within Part 2 of the Equality Act 2006 to complement the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations and afford protection against discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in: the provision of goods, facilities and services, education, the disposal and management of premises and in the exercise of public functions. Part 2 of the Equality Act provides protection from direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and victimisation. The measures address an imbalance which had emerged from case-law under the Race Relations Act in which Jews and Sikhs were afforded protection in the areas outlined above while members of other, multi-ethnic, religions were not. The provisions within Part 2 came into force on 30 March 2007.
- Introduced the Racial & Religious Hatred Act 2006 which creates a new offence of incitement to religious hatred. The Act came into force on 1 October 2007.
Source: HM Government Equality Office
For useful information: Equality and Human Rights Commission
3rd Floor
Prideaux Court,
Palace Street,
Plymouth, PL1 2AY
Tel: 01752 224555
Fax: 01752 220258
Email: enquiries@plymouthrec.org
Company registered No: 3827654
Charity registered No: 1102012
MISSION STATEMENT
“…to build a fair and just society everyone must have an equal chance to live, work and learn free from prejudice, discrimination and racism.
It values diversity and works in partnership with individuals and organisations that are also committed to race equality”
'Proud Parents' of Plymouths Annual Respect Festival - 2007 10th Anniversary
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