Equality and Human Rights Commission Neil Martin Regional Advisor, Yorkshire & Humber

The Commission’s remit reduce inequality and discrimination in all its forms promote and protect human rights, and strengthen good relations

EHRC work Equality Bill Human Rights Inquiry & Strategy Legal cases – BNP Research – migrant workers & social housing Guidance – Challenging organised racial hatred Inquiries – targeted violence & harassment of disabled people Strategic Funding Programme Good Relations Measurement Framework Triennial Review Regional work & priorities

The Equality Bill Declutter the law on equality – –Currently 9 major pieces of legislation –About 100 statutory instruments –more than 2,500 pages of guidance & statutory codes of practice. Ensure public services are responsive to the needs of communities and promote equality Ensure greater transparency Election?

Equality Bill Protected characteristics –Age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation Dual discrimination clause Public sector duties Socio-economic duty Procurement Positive discrimination Gender pay gap & pay reporting

Public Sector Duty A public authority must have due regard to the need to: –eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation –advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it –foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it Having due regard to foster good relations involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to –tackle prejudice, and –promote understanding A person who is not a public authority but who exercises public functions must, in the exercise of those functions, have due regard to the duties

Public Sector Duty Focus on outcomes Equality Impact Assessments Specific duties: –Secondary legislation –GEO consultation

Socio-economic Duty Strategic public authorities to consider socioeconomic disadvantage in: –Planning & –monitoring of the services Tackle some of most deep rooted discrimination

Equality Bill – Key Dates Bill in House of Lords Committee stage Spring 2010 –expect to be enacted Summer 2010 –GEO consultations on secondary legislation October 2010 –Commencement employment & services / public functions April 2011 –Commencement Public Sector Equality Duty / procurement Current duties still apply

Equality Bill – EHRC Guidance Non Statutory Guidance –What’s New In the Act –Employment Guidance for Employers & Employees –Services and Public Functions Guidance for Providers & Users –The Equality Act for Public Bodies –Equality in the Public Sector for Individuals, Private and Third Sector Organisations

Equality Bill – EHRC Guidance Codes of Practice –Employment & Occupation –Services & Public Functions –Equal Pay –Education –Public Sector Equality Duty Consultation – framework/equality-bill/equality-bill-consultations/ framework/equality-bill/equality-bill-consultations/ –Non-Statutory Guidance consultation event 31 st March 2010

Contacts Yorkshire & Humber: Tel: Helpline:

‘Building a society built on fairness and respect where people are confident in all aspects of their diversity.’