Equality Bill

The Equality Bill shows the government’s commitment to human rights, equality and anti-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender, race and disability.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission for Equality and Human Rights (EHRC) will offer a ‘one-stop shop’ for advice about discrimination and will have additional responsibility for policing discrimination. The CEHR will be established in 2007, merging the Commission for Race Equality, Disability Rights Commission and The Human Rights Commission (the three commissions will cease in 2008, forming the new EHRC in 2009)

Duty to monitor progress

The CEHR will also have a duty to monitor progress on equality, human rights and good relations between communities, and to publish a regular ‘state of the nation’ report.

The Equality Bill

• Establish the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and to define its purpose and functions
• Make unlawful discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in the provision of goods, facilities, services, premises, education and the exercise of public functions (subject to certain exemptions)
• Impose a duty on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity between men and women (the gender duty) and to prohibit sex discrimination in the exercise of public functions

For further information: www.eoc.org.uk (Equal Opportunities Commission)