Equality and Human Rights Commission

Date established
October 2007
 
Mode of establishment
Act of Parliament (Equality Act 2006)
 
Status
Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB)
 
Mandate/objectives
Mandate and objectives are set out in the Equality Act 2006 which provides that the Commission’s General Duty is to exercise its functions with a view to encouraging and supporting the development of a society in which:
(a) peoples ability to achieve their potential is not limited by prejudice or discrimination,
(b) there is respect for and protection of each individuals human rights,
(c) there is respect for the dignity and worth of each individual,
(d) each individual has an equal opportunity to participate in society, and
(e) there is mutual respect between groups based on understanding and valuing of diversity and on shared respect for equality and human rights.
 
Grounds of discrimination covered
Age, disability, gender, reassignment of gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation
 
Competences and responsibilities
A. The Commission’s statutory duties
The Commission’s statutory duties, set out in sections 8 - 12 of the Equality Act 2006, are to:
• Promote understanding of the importance of equality and diversity
• Encourage good practice in relation to equality and diversity
• Promote equality of opportunity
• Promote awareness and understanding of rights under the equality enactments
• Enforce the equality enactments
• Work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination
• Work towards the elimination of unlawful harassment
• Promote understanding of the importance of human rights
• Encourage good practice in relation to human rights
• Promote awareness, understanding and protection of human rights
• Encourage public authorities to comply with section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (compliance with Convention rights)
• Promote good relations among and between groups and others, where a groups include a group or class of persons who share a common attribute in respect of any of the protected grounds
• Monitor, and advise government on, the effectiveness of laws relating to equality and human rights and monitor and report progress towards identified desired outcomes.

B. The Commission’s statutory powers
The Commission’s statutory powers under the Equality Act 2006 include the following powers:

Legal Policy - law and policy monitoring, advice and guidance:
• to advise central government about the effectiveness of any of the equality and human rights enactments and to recommend amendment, repeal, consolidation etc. of any of the equality and human rights enactments
• to advise central or devolved government about the effect of an enactment and the likely effect of a proposed change of law
• to issue or revise a code of practice in connection with a matter addressed in the equality enactments
• to give advice or guidance (about the effect or operation of an enactment or otherwise)
• to publish or otherwise disseminate ideas or information
• to undertake research
• to co-operate with persons interested in human rights within the UK or elsewhere
• to make, co-operate with or assist in arrangements for monitoring crime affecting certain groups
Enforcement - actions by the EHRC in its own name
• to conduct an inquiry into any matter related to equality and diversity, human rights or good relations between protected groups and report on its findings
• to conduct an investigation where it suspects that the person has breached an equality enactment, and to serve an unlawful act notice
• to enter into an enforceable agreement to stop acts of discrimination or breach or public sector equality duty in lieu of an investigation, unlawful act notice or compliance notice;
• to conduct an assessment of compliance with public sector equality duties and serve a compliance notice for any breach;
• to apply to court for an injunction to restrain the commission of an unlawful act
• to bring proceedings in relation to discriminatory advertisements, instructions or pressure to discriminate
• to bring own-name proceedings, including judicial review proceedings, and/or to intervene in proceedings relevant
• to its equality or human rights functions
Litigation and casework - action to assist victims of discrimination:
• to assist an individual in proceedings for a breach of one of the equality enactments, including providing legal advice, legal representation, facilities for settlement or any other form of assistance
• to assist an individual in proceedings concerning a landlord's refusal to consent to an improvement in a dwelling
• to facilitate the enjoyment of the premises by a disabled occupier;
• to make arrangements for the provision of conciliation services for disputes which could otherwise be litigated under one of the equality enactments;
Publication of a Strategic plan:
• The Commission shall publish a plan setting out its activities undertaken in pursuance of its statutory duties, which shall be reviewed and revised every three years. The plan shall be laid before Parliament.

Grants:
• The Commission may make grants to another person in pursuance of its duties (above).
 
Main activities

See above
 
Publications

Are available from: www.equalityhumanrights.com

Promotion of equality

The Commission’s statutory duties, set out in the Equality Act 2006, which require it to promote equality are to:
• Promote understanding of the importance of equality and diversity.
• Promote equality of opportunity.
• Promote awareness and understanding of rights under the equality enactments.
• Promote awareness, understanding and protection of human rights.
• Promote good relations among and between groups and others, where ‘groups’ include a group or class of persons who share a common attribute in respect of any of the protected grounds.
The Commission has a Communications Directorate focusing on promoting equality issues. This includes a Press, Marketing and Publications team.

Name and contact details to the person responsible for promotion of equality in your NEB
Naureen Khan, Naureen.khan@equalityhumanrights.com

Grounds of discrimination covered by promoting activities - Age, disability, gender, reassignment of gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation

Management

Strategic direction is given by Commissioners and day-to-day management is conducted by the Senior Management Team and Chief Executive.
 
Nomination of senior staff and board

Commissioners are appointed by sponsoring department,the Government Equalities Office   for a time limited period. Senior staff are recruited by open competition.
 
Number of staff

500
 
Budget

EUR 70,000,000
 
Accountability

• Under the Equality Act 2006 the Commission is required to prepare a plan every three years showing the Commission's activities in discharging its statutory functions. A copy of the plan is laid before Parliament.
• The Commission is also required to publish a report every three years on progress towards equality under the Equality Act 2006. This report identifies changes in society relevant to equality and human rights issues; it also identifies outcomes and indicators to monitor progress towards equality. A copy of the plan is laid before Parliament.
 
Address

Equality and Human Rights Commission
3 More London
Riverside
Tooley street
London
SE1 2RG

Contact details

Maria Neophytou
Ph: +44 (0)20 3117 0408
Maria.Neophytou@equalityhumanrights.com

Further information

www.equalityhumanrights.com