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Disability Rights Commission Newsletter |
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Disability Rights Commission Special Bulletin February 2003 Welcome to this special issue of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) email bulletin, outlining the Commission’s stance on the Government’s consultation over a Single Equality Body. In this issue: 1. DRC’s response to the
Government’s consultation document, "Equality and Diversity: Making it
Happen" The Government announced last year that it intended to look at the future arrangements for taking forward the enforcement and promotion of equality. In October 2002 it published a consultation document called "Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen", seeking views on a number of options, including the potential establishment of a Single Equality Body (SEB). The DRC has submitted its response to the Government’s consultation. Despite the advances secured, the DRC believes much remains to be achieved with respect to equality in the areas of disability, gender and race as well as the new strands of sexual orientation, age, religion and belief. The Government’s consultation paper sets out three options for future structures. These include an SEB, bringing all the strands together, a Single Gateway, based on a single point of enquiry, and an "Overarching Body" based on an umbrella body acting as a co-ordinating function with the existing commissions and any new arrangements made for the new strands. The DRC sees the attraction in a "federal" arrangement, comprising an "umbrella" body focusing on cross-cutting and shared issues, together with units and appointed committees with executive powers concerned with the individual strands. In the case of disability, disabled people should retain influence and control on decisions and actions that are specific to disability. The DRC is of the opinion that this proposed model would ensure any new arrangements retain a major emphasis on strand specific issues, whilst also providing for full consideration of cross cutting issues and the promotion of equality. The DRC’s response to the consultation is subject to a number of overriding concerns, particularly the need to retain a strong disability and other strand-specific emphasis and structure. In addition, we see the need for any new body to operate within a common framework of rights and obligations covering all the strands. The DRC wishes to contribute constructively to decisions ahead of any new equality arrangements, and we believe our approach to our work and our experience demonstrates that we have much to offer. We are of course determined to ensure the best outcome for disabled people and their rights. We also want to ensure a good outcome for all the strands, and that any moves to a SEB do indeed capture the potential advances that such an arrangement could bring about. To view the DRC’s response to the Government’s consultation, please go to: http://www.drc-gb.org/drc/InformationAndLegislation/Page38Za.asp To read the DRC’s press release announcing its response, click on: http://www.drc-gb.org/drc/InformationAndLegislation/NewsRelease_030221.asp 2. Government’s consultation, "Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen" "Equality and Diversity: Making it
Happen" looks at long-term options for equality machinery in Great
Britain, including the feasibility of creating a Single Equality Body,
and draws on To view the document, please go to: http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/equality_body/cons_doc.htm The Consultation document was distributed by the Government in October 2002 to many equality organisations throughout Great Britain, requesting feedback. The consultation ended on 21 February 2003. The Government’s decision regarding a Single Equality Body is expected in June/July 2003. 3. Citizens' Forum on Equality and Diversity A "Citizens' Forum" on Equality and Diversity in Britain was held in Manchester on Saturday 22 February. Over 100 people participated in the Forum, a representative sample of the population reflecting the six "strand" groups that will be covered by anti-discrimination legislation, i.e. disability, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and belief, and age. The event was sponsored by the Disability Rights Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and Equal Opportunities Commission, and was organised by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). The event comprised a series of cross-strand group sessions on key aspects of equality and how best to tackle discrimination, plenary discussions and electronic voting. Speakers included:
Key messages from the day included a strong desire among the participants for Britain to make greater progress on equality and ending discrimination; a firm belief that this progress can indeed be made; the key role that the media can and should play; and a need for additional advice and support, particularly at local level, for individuals and organisations wishing to tackle discrimination. 4. Your feedback - spread the news! We welcome your comments and suggestions on this special DRC email bulletin. Please send them by replying to the email address below. Please forward this bulletin to your friends and colleagues and encourage them to subscribe to this free service. They can do so by following this link: http://www.drc-gb.org.uk/subscribe.asp You can unsubscribe at any time by following this link: http://www.drc-gb.org.uk/unsubscribe.asp For up-to-date information, please visit the DRC website at: |