Commission for Equality and Human Rights

The Equalities Act 2006 establishes the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) that will come into being in October 2007. The work of the three current Commissions, the Disability Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality will be integrated into the new Commission from October 2007. The CEHR will promote equality and tackle discrimination in relation to sexual orientation, age, and religion or belief – areas that are not covered by the existing Commissions.  The CEHR will also, for the first time, be charged with the promotion and protection of human rights, providing institutional support for the Human Rights Act.

The Commission will cover England, Scotland and Wales. In Scotland and Wales there will be statutory committees responsible for the work of the CEHR. There will also, for the first time, be a regional presence able to work with groups like the existing Race Equality Councils, and other local organisations delivering on the ground, which the new Commission will be empowered to fund.

According to the CEHR vision[1] “The CEHR will provide coherent, accessible advice and support for individuals on all discrimination issues. It will provide business with accurate, joined up advice and information in one place on all equality and discrimination issues. It will work to make public services responsive to diverse needs, in line with the standards of the Human Rights Act; use its enforcement powers to tackle persistent discrimination and work for the whole person by tackling multiple causes of discrimination and disadvantage…. Recognising that isolation, misunderstanding, fear, intimidation and segregation can be crucial elements of inequality or unjust treatment, the Commission’s brief extends beyond tackling discrimination, to demonstrating and sharing best practice and promoting equality and human rights principles in public and private bodies. Using these principles, it will also seek to address tensions and promote good relations between individuals and between and within groups in their local communities.”

For more information see www.cehr.org.uk .