Equality and Human Rights Commission facts for kids
| 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 Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is a special group in Great Britain. It was set up on October 1, 2007, by a law called the Equality Act 2006. Its main job is to make sure everyone is treated fairly and equally. This means stopping unfair treatment based on things like race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion.
The EHRC took over from older groups that focused on race, gender, and disability rights. It works in England, Scotland, and Wales. In Scotland, it works alongside the Scottish Human Rights Commission. The EHRC also works to protect human rights across Great Britain.
The EHRC has offices in big cities like Manchester, London, Glasgow, and Cardiff. It is an independent group, meaning it works separately from the government. However, it is responsible for how it uses public money. The people who lead the EHRC are chosen by the Minister for Women and Equalities. The EHRC does not work in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has its own groups for equality and human rights. The current head of the EHRC is Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine. She started this role in December 2020.
Contents
What the EHRC Does
The EHRC gets its powers from the Equality Act 2006. This law helps the EHRC work towards a society where everyone is treated fairly.
Promoting Fairness
The EHRC wants to create a society where:
- People can reach their full potential without being held back by prejudice or unfair treatment.
- Everyone's human rights are respected and protected. This includes respecting the value of each person.
- Every person has an equal chance to take part in society.
- Different communities respect each other. This comes from understanding and valuing diversity.
Helping in Court
The EHRC can get involved in court cases. It can ask a court to review decisions made by public bodies. This helps make sure these bodies follow equality and human rights laws. The EHRC can also step in to help with ongoing court cases.
Checking Public Bodies
The EHRC can check if public organizations are following equality rules. Public organizations include places like local councils or government offices. If an organization is not following the rules, the EHRC can issue "compliance notices." These notices tell the organization what it needs to do to fix things. This helps solve problems before they go to court.
Working with Employers
The EHRC can make special 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 improve their fairness without a big public investigation. The EHRC can make sure these agreements are followed.
Investigating Unfairness
The EHRC can start investigations if it thinks unfair treatment is happening. This power allows them to look into situations more easily than older groups could. They can investigate if they suspect unlawful discrimination is taking place.
EHRC Campaigns
The EHRC runs different campaigns to promote equality and human rights.
Care and Support (2010)
This campaign looked at how people receive care and support. The EHRC suggested moving from just providing a "safety net" to helping people grow. The idea was to give people more control over their lives. This would help them get involved in society and contribute.
Working Better (2016)
This project aimed to find new ways to meet the needs of today's workers. It focused on making work more flexible. This included helping people balance their work and family life.
Good Relations (2018)
This campaign helps local councils and communities. It provides research and advice. The goal is to help different communities understand and respect each other better.
Who Leads the EHRC?
The EHRC is led by a group called the Board of Commissioners. These are people with experience in equality and human rights. The Chief Executive of the Commission is also part of this board.
The main leader is the Chair. The current Chair is Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine. She was appointed in late 2022. The Chair speaks for the Commission and leads it along with the Chief Executive.
| Name | Time in Role |
|---|---|
| Kishwer Falkner | 2020–present |
| David Isaac | 2016–2020 |
| Onora O'Neill | 2012–2016 |
| Trevor Phillips | 2007–2012 |
Commissioners follow important rules about how they act. They also follow directions given to them by the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Deputy Chair steps in if the Chair is not available.
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Alasdair Henderson | Joint Deputy Chair |
| Eryl Besse | Wales Commissioner; Joint Deputy Chair |
| Marcial Boo | CEO – Commissioner |
| Dr Lesley Sawers OBE | Scotland Commissioner |
| Jessica Butcher MBE | |
| David Goodhart | |
| Su-Mei Thompson | |
| Akua Reindorf | |
| Kunle Olulode MBE | |
| Joanne Cash |
The EHRC has four offices in the UK: London, Manchester, Cardiff, and Glasgow.
Global Recognition
The EHRC is recognized around the world. In 2009, it received "A status" accreditation. This means it is seen as a top national human rights institution. This status gives the EHRC better access to the UN Human Rights Council and other UN human rights groups.
The EHRC is one of three human rights groups in the UK. The others are the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) and the Scottish Human Rights Commission. These three groups work together in global human rights networks.
Since 2008, the EHRC has reported on the UK's human rights record to the UN. This is called "shadow reporting." It helps the UN understand how well the UK is following human rights agreements.
The EHRC also helps make sure the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is followed in the UK. This agreement protects the rights of people with disabilities.
History of the EHRC
Trevor Phillips became the first chairman of the EHRC in 2007. He had previously led the Commission for Racial Equality. During his time, the EHRC faced some challenges and discussions about its leadership. Some Commissioners left or chose not to continue their roles.
In 2010, Phillips was investigated regarding his actions related to a parliamentary committee. He was cleared of serious wrongdoing. However, he was told his behavior was "inappropriate." Phillips completed his term in 2012, becoming the longest-serving leader of a UK equality commission.
Phillips also spoke about the challenges of multiculturalism in Britain. He warned that ignoring differences could lead to problems between communities.
David Isaac became the third chair in 2016. He had experience with LGBT charities. In 2017, it was reported that the EHRC's budget had been cut significantly since it was created.
Isaac's term ended in 2020. Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine was then appointed as the next Chair.
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 rules said that only "indigenous Caucasian" people could join. The EHRC believed this was against laws that stop unfair treatment.
The EHRC asked the BNP to promise they would not treat people unfairly when hiring. The BNP said it would clarify its rules. However, the EHRC believed the BNP would still discriminate. So, the EHRC took legal action against the party and its leaders.
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 force 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 EHRC report found that government policies had a bigger negative impact on the poorest people in the UK. This included single parents and disabled people. The report suggested this might go against the UK's human rights promises.
The study looked at cuts to public services and benefits from 2010 to 2015. It found that people with the lowest incomes lost a lot of their money. For example, the poorest 20% in England lost about 11% of their income. Lone-parent households and families with many children also lost a lot. Households with disabled members and Black households were also affected more.
The EHRC said that making vulnerable groups suffer more from cuts goes against fairness. They asked ministers to reduce the impact on these groups. They suggested increasing benefits and spending more on health, social care, and housing.
Rebecca Hilsenrath, from the EHRC, said, "We know that some communities are being left behind and that the gap is widening. We know we need to do something before it's too late."
Labour Party
In 2019, the EHRC started an official investigation into the Labour Party. This was to see if the party had treated people unfairly or badly because they were Jewish. The investigation looked at whether unfair acts had happened and how the party handled complaints.
The EHRC published its report in October 2020. It found that the Labour Party was "responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination." The report noted cases of political interference. The Labour Party later published a plan to address the issues raised by the EHRC.
Conservative Party
In 2019, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) asked the EHRC to investigate the Conservative Party for unfair treatment against Muslims. The MCB provided many examples of prejudiced language. In May 2020, the EHRC announced it would not investigate the Conservative Party. Instead, it would watch the party's own internal review of the issue.
