 |
|||||||
|
|
 |
||||||
|
|
|
|||||
 |
|||||||
| ||||
Home | Commission for Equality and Human Rights | Equality Institutions Review: A Commission for Equality and Human Rights |
||||
Fairness for All : A New Commission for Equality and Human Rights |
||||
|
Last October, the Government announced its intention to create a single equality body to help realise its vision of a fairer, more inclusive and prosperous Britain. This vision maintains that discrimination is wrong and simply has no place in society. Extending opportunities to all means removing unfair barriers, and delivering prosperity for all means harnessing the skills and potential of every member of society, whatever their background.
On 12 May 2004 the Government published a White Paper, “Fairness for All : A New Commission for Equality and Human Rights”. The white paper sets out in detail the proposed vision, functions, powers and structures for the new CEHR. It outlines the work the new body will be expected to carry out to support key stakeholders and how its work will be implemented. The publication of this document marks the beginning of a new consultation period in the equality institutions review which is due to end on 6 August 2004. Details of consultation events will appear on this website in due course
The White Paper is available to download below and hard copies can be ordered by phoning 0870 1502 500. A press release concerning the White Paper’s publication can be found here, and the Statement to Parliament can be viewed here. A speech by Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister for Women, at the launch of the White Paper can be found here. And Lord Falconer's speech at the same event here.
For further information regarding the White Paper and consultation click here.
On 30 October 2003 the Government announced plans to bring together the work of the equality commissions in a new body that will take responsibility for new laws on age, religion or belief and sexual orientation, and for the first time provide institutional support for human rights.
Download Fairness for All : A New Commission for Equality and Human
Rights (PDF) Download Fairness for All : A New Commission for Equality and Human Rights (Word)
White Paper in other languages
Background to the Review
The Review came out of a statement made in Towards Equality and Diversity, published in December 2001, that the Government could see arguments in the longer term in favour of a single statutory commission.
In October 2002 it published a consultation document entitled Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen and invited responses from end-users, businesses, service providers and equality experts. The consultation phase ended in February 2003.
We do not expect any changes to be operative before 2006. In the meantime we will continue to work to implement the Race and Employment Directives.
Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen
As well as setting out structural options, the consultation looked at a number of cross-cutting issues that we will need to address, whatever the future structures are. These include the relationship between equality and human rights; devolved, regional and local issues; and the relationship between promotion and enforcement.
The consultation closed in February 2003.
Download Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen
The Consultation Process
See details of Equality Institutions Review consultative events
(top)
|
||||
|
Updated November 2004 | © Crown copyright |
||||
