Equality and Human Rights Commission facts for kids
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an important organization in Great Britain. It was created on October 1, 2007, to make sure everyone is treated fairly and equally. The EHRC works to promote and protect human rights across England, Scotland, and Wales. It helps make sure that laws against unfair treatment are followed.
The EHRC took over the jobs of older groups that focused on race, gender, and disability. Now, it also covers other areas like age, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. Its main goal is to build a society where everyone has the same chances and is respected.
The EHRC has offices in big cities like Manchester, London, Glasgow, and Cardiff. It works independently from the government but is responsible for how it uses public money.
| Welsh: Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol | |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 October 2007 |
| Jurisdiction | Great Britain |
| Employees | 218 |
| Annual budget | £17.1 million (FY 20/21) |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent department | Cabinet Office |
| Key document |
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| Website | https://www.equalityhumanrights.com |
The current leader of the EHRC is Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine. She became the Chair in December 2020. In July 2025, it was announced that Mary-Ann Stephenson would become the Chair in December 2025.
Contents
What the EHRC Does
The EHRC gets its powers from a law called the Equality Act 2006. This law says the EHRC should help create a society where:
- People can reach their full potential without being held back by unfair treatment.
- Everyone's human rights are respected and protected.
- Each person has an equal chance to be part of society.
- Different communities respect each other and value diversity.
Helping People and Organizations
The EHRC can take legal action to support equality. It can check if public organizations are following equality rules. If an organization is not following the rules, the EHRC can issue "compliance notices." This helps fix problems before they become bigger legal issues.
The EHRC can also make agreements with employers. For example, an employer might agree to check their practices to make sure they are fair. In return, the EHRC might agree not to investigate them. This helps employers avoid bad publicity and encourages fair practices.
Investigating Unfair Treatment
The EHRC has the power to investigate when it suspects unfair treatment is happening. This helps them find and stop discrimination. They can look into situations where people might be treated differently because of their race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion.
EHRC Campaigns
The EHRC runs campaigns to raise awareness and improve equality.
- Care and Support (2010): This report suggested new ways to help people have more control over their lives. It encouraged them to be more involved in society.
- Working Better (2016): This initiative looked for new ways to help people balance work and family life. It focused on making work more flexible.
- Good Relations (2018): The Commission provides advice and resources to help different communities understand and respect each other better.
Who Leads the EHRC?
The EHRC is led by a Board of Commissioners. These are people with experience in equality and human rights. The Chair leads the Commission and acts as its main spokesperson. The Chief Executive manages the day-to-day operations.
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kishwer Falkner | 2020–present | |
| David Isaac | 2016–2020 | |
| Onora O'Neill | 2012–2016 | |
| Trevor Phillips | 2007–2012 |
The Commissioners follow important rules about how they should act. The Deputy Chair helps the Chair and takes over if the Chair is away.
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| John Kirkpatrick | Interim Chief Executive |
| Lesley Sawers | Interim Deputy Chair; Scotland Commissioner |
| Jessica Butcher | |
| David Goodhart | |
| Su-Mei Thompson | |
| Akua Reindorf | |
| Kunle Olulode | |
| Joanne Cash | |
| Alasdair Henderson |
EHRC Around the World
The EHRC is part of a global network of human rights organizations. In 2009, it received "A status" accreditation. This means it has special access to the Human Rights Council and other United Nations human rights groups. This helps the EHRC share information and work with other countries on human rights issues.
The EHRC also helps monitor how the UK follows the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is an international agreement to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
History of the EHRC
Trevor Phillips was the first full-time chairman of the EHRC, starting in 2007. Before that, he led the Commission for Racial Equality. During his time, some Commissioners left or chose not to continue their roles.
In 2010, Phillips was investigated about trying to influence a committee. He was cleared of serious wrongdoing, but his behavior was called "inappropriate." He finished his term in 2012, making him the longest-serving leader of a UK equality commission.
Phillips also spoke about how different communities in Britain could become separated. He believed it was important to address these issues to prevent problems.
David Isaac became the third chair in 2016. He had previously worked with an LGBT charity. In 2017, a report showed that the EHRC's budget had been cut significantly since it was created.
Isaac's term ended in August 2020. Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine then became the next Chair. In July 2025, it was announced that Mary-Ann Stephenson would become the chair in December 2025.
Important Investigations
The EHRC has carried out several important investigations.
British National Party
After two members of the British National Party (BNP) were elected in 2009, the EHRC looked into the party's rules. The BNP's constitution said that only "indigenous Caucasian" people could be members. The EHRC believed this was against discrimination laws. The EHRC took legal action against the BNP to make sure they followed the law.
Metropolitan Police Service
In 2016, the EHRC published a report about unfair treatment within the Metropolitan Police Service. The investigation looked into how the police treated officers from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, female officers, and gay officers. It focused on how complaints were handled.
Inequality in the UK
A 2018 report by the EHRC found that government policies had a greater negative impact on the poorest people in the UK. It showed that cuts to public services and benefits affected people with less money, single parents, and disabled people the most. The report suggested that these cuts went against human rights principles. It asked the government to reduce the impact on vulnerable groups.
Labour Party
In 2019, the EHRC launched an official investigation into the Labour Party. This was to see if the party had unfairly treated people because they were Jewish. The investigation looked at whether unlawful acts had happened and how the party handled complaints.
In October 2020, the EHRC published its report. It found that the Labour Party was "responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination." The report also found instances of political interference. The Labour Party later published a plan to address the issues raised by the EHRC.
Windrush Scandal
In June 2020, the Commission announced it would investigate the UK Home Office. This investigation was about the "hostile environment policy" towards migrants and the Windrush scandal. The report was published in November 2020.
Conservative Party
The Muslim Council of Britain asked the EHRC to investigate the Conservative Party for issues related to prejudice against Muslims. In May 2020, the EHRC announced it would not investigate at that time. Instead, it would monitor the party's own internal review of the issue.
See also
- Scottish Human Rights Commission
