Equality and Human Rights Commission

Neil MartinRegional Advisor, Yorkshire & Humber

The Commission’s remit

• reduce inequality and discrimination in all its forms

• promote and protect human rights, and

• strengthen good relations

EHRC work• Equality Bill• Human Rights Inquiry & Strategy• Legal cases – BNP • Research – migrant workers & social housing • Guidance – Challenging organised racial hatred• Inquiries – targeted violence & harassment of

disabled people• Strategic Funding Programme• Good Relations Measurement Framework• Triennial Review• Regional work & priorities

The Equality Bill

• Declutter the law on equality –– Currently 9 major pieces of legislation– About 100 statutory instruments – more than 2,500 pages of guidance &

statutory codes of practice.

• Ensure public services are responsive to the needs of communities and promote equality

• Ensure greater transparency• Election?

Equality Bill

• Protected characteristics– Age, disability, gender, gender identity,

race, religion or belief, sexual orientation

• Dual discrimination clause• Public sector duties• Socio-economic duty• Procurement• Positive discrimination • Gender pay gap & pay reporting

Public Sector Duty

• A public authority must have due regard to the need to:– eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation– advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a

relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it– foster good relations between persons who share a relevant

protected characteristic and persons who do not share it

• Having due regard to foster good relations involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to

– tackle prejudice, and– promote understanding

• A person who is not a public authority but who exercises public functions must, in the exercise of those functions, have due regard to the duties

Public Sector Duty

• Focus on outcomes• Equality Impact

Assessments• Specific duties:

– Secondary legislation– GEO consultation

Socio-economic Duty

• Strategic public authorities to consider socioeconomic disadvantage in:– Planning & – monitoring of the services

• Tackle some of most deep rooted discrimination

Equality Bill – Key Dates

• Bill in House of Lords Committee stage• Spring 2010

– expect to be enacted

• Summer 2010 – GEO consultations on secondary legislation

• October 2010– Commencement employment & services / public

functions

• April 2011– Commencement Public Sector Equality Duty /

procurement

• Current duties still apply

Equality Bill – EHRC Guidance

• Non Statutory Guidance– What’s New In the Act– Employment Guidance for Employers &

Employees– Services and Public Functions Guidance for

Providers & Users– The Equality Act for Public Bodies– Equality in the Public Sector for Individuals,

Private and Third Sector Organisations

Equality Bill – EHRC Guidance

• Codes of Practice– Employment & Occupation– Services & Public Functions– Equal Pay– Education– Public Sector Equality Duty

• Consultation– www.equalityhumanrights.com/legislative-

framework/equality-bill/equality-bill-consultations/– Non-Statutory Guidance consultation event 31st

March 2010

ContactsYorkshire & Humber:

neil.martin@equalityhumanrights.comTel: 0113 3412694

khalida.ashrafi@equalityhumanrights.com

michaela.bartlett@equalityhumanrights.com

Helpline: 0845 6046610

‘Building a society built on fairness and respect where people are confident in all aspects of their diversity.’