THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Prior to October 2007:

1. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION [EOC]

The EOC worked to try to eliminate sex discrimination:

 By providing advice and information to the public about their legal rights, what options they have, and the next steps they can take.
 By taking legal cases under the Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act. These cases help to secure equal treatment for women and men in the areas of pay, pensions and caring.
 By publishing research and statistics about women's and men's lives. These show clearly and simply where change is needed.
 By running high-profile campaigns to change public opinion and the law.
 By investigating organisations or areas of life where sex discrimination is common..

2. THE COMMISSION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY [CRE]

The CRE's legal powers
The CRE had statutory powers under the Race Relations Act 1976. These included powers to:
• advise or assist people with complaints about racial discrimination, harassment or abuse
• conduct formal investigations of companies and organisations where there is evidence of possible discrimination; if the investigation does find discrimination, the CRE can oblige the organisation to change the way it operates
• take legal action against racially discriminatory advertisements, and against organisations that attempt to pressurise or instruct others to discriminate — such as employers instructing employment agencies not to send them applicants from ethnic minorities, or companies instructing their workers to discriminate in the way they provide goods or services
• assist individuals to take judicial review action in order to challenge decisions made by public bodies, including their compliance to the general duty to promote race equality

3. THE DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION [DRC]

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) was an independent body established in April 2000 by Act of Parliament to stop discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people
The DRC’s goal was to create "a society where all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens".

What the DRC did
• Gave advice and information to disabled people, employers and service providers - our DRC Helpline has taken more than half a million calls.
• Support disabled people in getting their rights under the DDA.
• Help solve problems - often without going to a court or employment tribunal.
• Support legal cases to test the limits of the law - we funded 84 legal cases in 2002-2003.
• Provide an independent Disability Conciliation Service for disabled people and service providers through Mediation UK.
• Campaigns to strengthen the law.
• Organise campaigns - such as Open 4 All campaign - to change policy, practice and awareness.
• Produce policy statements and research on disability issues; and publications on rights and good practice for disabled people, employers and service providers.

4. The transition to a single commission on equality and human rights (CEHR)

The Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) has now taken over the three existing commissions and acquire new responsibilities to promote other aspects of equality and human rights, all in one organisation.

The Commission for Equality and Human Rights
Equality, diversity, and respect for the human rights and dignity of every man, woman and child are core values that define our lives in Britain.

The vision for the CEHR is based on the Government's view that equality is not a minority concern - it matters to every one of us. At some point in our lives, all of us face barriers that may prevent us fulfilling our potential, or participating fully in society.

Delivering prosperity for all means ensuring that every individual has the chance to achieve their potential, free from prejudice and discrimination. Ensuring that everyone can participate in Britain's success is critical to its delivery.

The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) will champion equality, diversity, and human rights as defining values of our society, encouraging all our institutions to operate for the benefit of every individual. The Equality Act 2006 established the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) that came into being in October 2007.

How we live together is one of the big challenges of the twenty-first century: as serious as climate change and more immediate.
A milestone along the road to a fairer, more equal Britain, the new Equality and Human Rights Commission opened on 1 October 2007.
The new commission is working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.
The previous commissions – the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Disability Rights Commission – have made enormous advances, changing Britain into a fairer place. But much remains to be done.
The new commission is building on their legacy to achieve change to benefit some of the most disadvantaged and voiceless people in our society.
The new commission brings together the work of the three previous equality commissions and also takes on responsibility for the other aspects of equality: age, sexual orientation and religion or belief, as well as human rights.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission acts not only for the disadvantaged, but for everyone in society, and can use its new enforcement powers where necessary to guarantee people’s equality. It also has a mandate to promote understanding of the Human Rights Act.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) established under the Equality Act 2006 – accountable for its public funds, but independent of government.
The team
The chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission is Trevor Phillips; He is backed by a senior management team who are all major players in the equalities and human rights field. They are supported by statutory committees for disability, Scotland and Wales.

Article ; http://www.cehr.org.uk/news/docview.rhtm/350368

Trevor Phillips appointed as chair of new equality and human rights body Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, today announced the appointment of Trevor Phillips as the Chair of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR). This body will be a new organisation and will inherit the responsibilities of the existing equality commissions: the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. It will also have responsibilities on rights in relation to age, sexual orientation, religion and belief, and will ensure that Unions and organisations such as the Citizen Advice Bureau have the correct training and information to advise people on these rights. The new body, which will become operational in Autumn 2007, will provide a powerful, authoritative, single voice on equality and human rights. In addition to its legal role in enforcing equalities legislation, the body will work to ensure that organisations and individuals have access to clear and understandable information in order to foster debate, tackle issues early on and encourage a change of culture within institutions. A new helpline and website will be launched to give people clear advice on what to do if they have been discriminated against. This will make it easier to get advice on how to handle discrimination at work or in schools and, for example, what to do about homophobic bullying or what to do if you are made redundant because you are pregnant. It will also have new powers to combat prejudice and to monitor, prevent or reduce crimes affecting communities, particularly hate crime and crimes of incitement. People and institutions will now have a single point of contact on equality and human rights issues. DCLG will be the Department responsible for this body. The equality body will provide a more coherent focus: often the things that work to remove barriers to opportunities for one group of people, will work elsewhere. The creation of the new equalities body is part of Government's wider work to simplify and modernise the law through the Discrimination Law Review leading to a Single Equality Act in the lifetime of this Parliament. The Equalities Review - reporting early next year - will be exploring wider causes of deep rooted injustice. In announcing the appointment, Ruth Kelly said:
"We all want to live in a society where everyone can get on in life irrespective of their background. Whether it is at school, at work or in how different services treat people this sense of fairness is deeply held. The new equality body will be a powerful advocate for a fairer society for many years to come. It will fight for people who face any barriers or discrimination in their lives. "Trevor Phillips is the best man for the job. He has a proven track record, a wealth of experience and is prepared to tackle the difficult and controversial issues head on. This will be a valuable asset right across the whole equalities agenda."

Chair of the CEHR Trevor Phillips said:
"We need a society where our origins do not determine our destiny, where the dignity and equal treatment of the individual is unfailing, where the disadvantaged are protected and empowered. Our ambition must be to create a society that is at ease with all aspects of its diversity. Bringing Britain closer to this vision is probably the most exciting task of our time. "When I joined the CRE I believed it could be a great job. In fact, it's turned out to be the best job I ever had. I am thrilled to be asked to lead this completely new organisation which I hope will inherit the best of its predecessors and be enriched by the contributions of the new equality strands. The CEHR will be a modern, creative, open, powerful and above all independent voice for equality and human rights in Britain and internationally."

John Hutton, Secretary of State for Work & Pensions said:
"This new equality body has a strong Chairman in Trevor Phillips who is prepared to challenge conventional thinking and lead from the front. I am confident he will now begin a process of engagement with disabled people and other stakeholders in order to ensure that the new body builds on the strong legacy left by the Disability Rights Commission." Baroness Catherine Ashton, Minister for Human Rights, Department for Constitutional Affairs said:
"I welcome Trevor Phillips' appointment and know he brings huge experience to this role. I look forward to working with him and the new Commission to champion equality, diversity and human rights as central values of our society".

Brendan Barber from the TUC said:
"The new commission has an absolutely vital job to do and we look forward to working with the new chair, commissioners and staff. It is important that the new body maintains its law enforcement powers alongside its broader community role. Both will be critical if we are to increase equality and justice in the workplace."
Question: is this a positive or a negative move? Why?
See:

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/