Fears remain over new equality body

The government confirmed plans for a new single equality
commission last week but concerns that disability issues could be
sidelined remain after it failed to outline the new
commission’s composition.

The Disability Rights Commission welcomed the new body but is
concerned that disability could be marginalised by gender and
race.

“I would have hoped that, after 18 months of consultation, the
government would have been in a position to decide on a structure,”
said Bert Massie, DRC chairperson.

Provisionally called the Commission for Equality and Human
Rights, it will bring together the Commission for Racial Equality,
the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities
Commission. It will take responsibility for new laws outlawing
workplace discrimination on age, religion or belief and sexual
orientation and will promote human rights.

The DRC want to see the commission act as an umbrella body
focusing on issues of shared concern, but with specialist units for
each commission with elected committees.