Equalities combined...

Today sees the launch of the Equality and Human Rights Commission which combines the work of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) into one.  The new commission also takes responsibility for strands on sexuality, religion and age, better to work the differing ‘strands’ into one integrated approach.

This is of particular interest to me as earlier this year I chaired a seminar in conjunction with them (as part of a wider review involving ippr) looking at the challenges they face (ippr north also held two events in the North West looking at the equalities agenda on gender and local government).  For me there were two elements to the seminar discussion which stood out, both difficult, but due consideration.

Firstly, tackle the media head on and really challenge the seemingly constant stream of messages attacking the Human Rights Act.  It is not a ‘terrorist’s charter’ or ‘political correctness gone mad’. Speaking of PC, one seminar attendee made the very good point that we need to come up with a message or slogan as inherently positive and strong, as PC is now (wrongly) tarred with negative connotations.

Secondly, we must challenge the dynamic that it is up to the minority to ‘fit in’ with the majority.  A key element in securing this may well be the idea of a seventh strand which ensures everything is mainstreamed through HR, thereby strengthening their work.  We wish it well.