This e-alert is an effort to bring you collated information on the announcement of a new Equality and Human Rights commission in the UK. It was announced on 30 October, 2003 and will be formally launched in 2006.

The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will bring together the work of three existing equality commissions - the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission and take responsibility for new laws outlawing workplace discrimination on age, religion or belief and sexual orientation and promotion of human rights. The merger of the existing equality commissions will also ensure that Britain complies with new European equality directives.

The commission is the result of the biggest review of equality institutions in a quarter of a century. The Government's consultation Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen was published in October 2002. It invited responses from end-users, business, service providers and equality experts. The consultation phase ended in February 2003.

A white paper will be published in the Spring 2004 making detailed proposals for the new organisation, provisionally named the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR).

An advisory taskforce, including members of the existing commissions and others reflecting the new anti-discrimination areas, will be set up to help shape the new commission. It will provide advice on key issues such as governance and structure. Legislation is expected to be drawn up in the light of responses to the spring white paper.

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Announcement of a new Equality and Human Rights commission in the UK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This e-alert is an effort to bring you collated information on the announcement of a new Equality and Human Rights commission in the UK. It was announced on 30 October, 2003 and will be formally launched in 2006. The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will bring together the work of three existing equality commissions - the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission and take responsibility for new laws outlawing workplace discrimination on age, religion or belief and sexual orientation and promotion of human rights. The merger of the existing equality commissions will also ensure that Britain complies with new European equality directives. The commission is the result of the biggest review of equality institutions in a quarter of a century. The Government's consultation Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen was published in October 2002. It invited responses from end-users, business, service providers and equality experts. The consultation phase ended in February 2003. A white paper will be published in the Spring 2004 making detailed proposals for the new organisation, provisionally named the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR). An advisory taskforce, including members of the existing commissions and others reflecting the new anti-discrimination areas, will be set up to help shape the new commission. It will provide advice on key issues such as governance and structure. Legislation is expected to be drawn up in the light of responses to the spring white paper.

1.	Human Rights Act in the UK
2.	Why single Equality Commission for the UK
3.	Responses from three mereged Equality Commissions
4.	Other Policy Responses
5.	Joint Committee Reports
6.	Reports & Reviews
7.	Task Force: Terms of Reference, Task Force Schedule, Details of Task Force meetings and reports
8.	Reactions
9.	Future


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	Copyright © 2004 British Council. Disclaimer: Views expressed in e-Alert are not necessarily those of the British Council

Commonwealth Human Rights e-Alert: First Issue


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