Equality and Human Rights Commission

Good Relations.The Future Agenda

Dr. Marc VerlotForesight directorEHRC

Overview

• EHRC Mandate• Change is upon us

(1) new legislation(2) New political context

• What has the EHRC done?(1) Programmes(2) GRMF

• How can EDF be involved?

EHRC’s mandate on Good Relations• ... to build mutual respect between groups

based on understanding and valuing of diversity, and on shared respect for equality and human rights (EA 2006)

• Promoting good relations and eliminating prejudice is one of core functions (Equality Act 2006)

• Applies to all strands, though particular emphasis on race, religion and belief

EHRC’s mandate - 2

• Legislation gives us a role in:– Promoting understanding– Encouraging good practice– Eliminating prejudice, hatred and hostility– Enabling groups to participate in society

• Section 10 of EA 2006 also makes clear that it is about members of groups – putting more emphasis on individuals than before.

Changed legislation

• EA 2010 introduces a public duty in which it asks public bodies and those who exercise public functions to have due regard to “fostering good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it”

• Fostering can be interpreted as stronger than promoting

• Consultation will be out on specific duties!

Changed legislation - 2Examples form the explanatory note on the Act

• The duty could lead a large government department, in its capacity as an employer, to provide staff with education and guidance, with the aim of fostering good relations between its transsexual staff and its non-transsexual staff.

• The duty could lead a school to review its anti-bullying strategy to ensure that it addresses the issue of homophobic bullying, with the aim of fostering good relations, and in particular tackling prejudice against gay and lesbian people.

• The duty could lead a local authority to introduce measures to facilitate understanding and conciliation between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims living in a particular area, with the aim of fostering good relations between people of different religious beliefs.

Changed political context

• The Big Society instead of community cohesion? New UK Government is taking a different approach

• Partnership from below instead of funding from above

• Local will replace national

EHRC work

Have done a number of things • Publishing research on roots of prejudice

and how to tackle them• Looking into tensions between strands:

religion and sexuality, religion and disability, gender and ethnicity

• Implemented a range of activities around preventing bad relations

EHRC work - 2

• engaged in debate and policy on migration – looking what is influencing the numbers and what policy should be and how relevant public bodies like UKBA can meet their duties

• developing activities among young people around generating better or good relations such as Project 1000

• we are funding some projects such as Show Racism the Red Card, drama groups on prejudices around disability

• significant effort into accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers: a test bed area of good relations approaches

Good Relations MF

• Published the conceptual framework – Icoco

• Have developed long list into shortlist via consultations

• Identified 4 domains and 20-22 indicators

• Results published in August 2010

EDF involvement

• Involve in public consultations on the PSED

• Let us know of any good practice on GR

• Let us know about the impact of changed policy on existing GR work

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