Equality and Human Rights
March 2009 Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Green Paper
The Ministry of Justice published a Green Paper: ‘Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework’ on 23rd March 2009.
Launching the Green Paper, Jack Straw, Justice Secretary, said:
“In difficult times, people need to know that their fundamental rights and freedoms are protected, whatever happens in the world around them, and that others will behave responsibly towards them. That is why the Government has emphasised the importance of fair chances, fair rules and having a fair say; that everyone should play by the rules. This Government is proud to have introduced the Human Rights Act and will not backtrack from it or repeal it. But we believe more should be done to bring out the responsibilities which accompany rights. We believe that there could be merit in bringing together rights such as free health care, victims’ rights and equality, which are currently scattered across the UK’s legal and political landscape.”
View a copy here: Rights_and_Responsibilities_Green_Paper_March.09_.pdf
Statement by the British Insitute of Human Rights (BIHR): Statement_on_Bill_of_Rights.doc
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has called for written evidence. The Committee asks those providing evidence to focus in particular on: (1) whether ‘responsibilities’ should be included in any UK Bill of Rights; (2) whether social and economic rights should be included in a UK Bill of Rights and, if so, what the role of the courts should be in relation to such rights; and (3) what should be the process for arriving at a UK Bill of Rights. Submissions should be made by Friday 3 July 2009.
Link to; Joint Committee on Human Rights
Link to: Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill published on 21st July 2009.
February 2009 Equality and Diversity Forum (EDF)
In February 2009, the Equality and Diversity Forum (EDF) publlished two new leaflets:
Leaflet about EDF: EDF_Leaflet.pdf
European Law and Equality: EDF_European_Law_and_Equality.pdf
February 2009 Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission opened on 1st October 2007 and is “working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.” The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) established under the Equality Act 2006 – accountable for its public funds, but independent of government.
Link to Your Rights: EHRC Your Rights
Link to Human Rights: Human Rights Guide
December 2008 Human Rights Based Approaches
A human rights based approach works to make rights real in people’s everyday lives. Its starting point is that we all have rights and that government and public bodies such as local authorities, Primary Care Trusts etc. have to respect and protect these rights .For the voluntary and community sector, it can also mean a change from talking about the needs of people/communities they support or represent to talking about their rights. Reframing poverty issues as rights issues can help the voluntary and community sector and those experiencing poverty to hold public services to account. It can change the way people experiencing poverty feel about themselves, their communities and their experiences. It can also make positive changes to the way that poverty is viewed more generally in society.
The British Institute of Human Rights worked with the Department of Health on developing a human rights based approach framework for delivering their services: Framework for Local Action
December 2008 British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR)
Vision We want a society that has become stronger because all human beings are equally valued, can participate fully and are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.
Mission To bring human rights to life by producing and shaping human rights tools, public policy and practices that empower people to improve their own lives and the lives of others.
BIHR publish papers, such as ‘Changing Lives’ (Second Edition), a report written by Lucy Matthews, Sonya Sceats, Sanchita Hosali and Jean Candler published in November 2008. A copy can be found here: Resources. BIHR also respond to government intiatives. A link to their site is here: Policy
September 2008 Government Equality Office (GEO)
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is the department responsible for equalities legislation and policy in the UK. The department was created by Parliament in October 2007.
GEO publish research, publications and fact sheets: Government Equalities Office. For example, ‘Government Action on LGBT rights’ LGBT_Fact_Sheet_GEO.pdf published in September 2008.
September 2008 Equalities PSA 15
GEO is the lead department for PSA 15 – the Equality PSA. Over the three years to March 2011, this PSA aims to:
• Narrow the gender pay gap
• Increase disabled people’s choice and control
• Address inequalities in civic participation
• Tackle discrimination in employment and
• Improve our understanding of and ability to address unfair treatment
A copy of PSA 15 is here: PSA_Delivery_Plan_09.08_.pdf
January 2008 Poverty and Human Rights
As part of the Joseph Rowtree Foundation’s ‘Public Interest in Poverty’, Damian Killeen wrote a paper asking, ‘Is poverty in the UK a denial of people’s human rights?’ in January 2008.
Damian Killeen agues that failure to incorporate the principles of the UN Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights into UK law has compounded social attitudes that denigrate people who experience poverty and undermine popular support for eradicating poverty.
‘Being poor in the United Kingdom can mean being subjected to discrimination on the grounds of poverty. Both poverty and discrimination are contrary to the spirit and the terms of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.’.
A copy is here: JRF_Denial_of_Human_Rights_01.08_.doc
December 2007 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union brings together into a single, simple text all the personal, civic, political, economic and social rights enjoyed by the citizens and residents of the European Union. The provisions of this Charter are addressed to the institutions and bodies of the Union with due regard for the principle of subsidiarity and to the Member States only when they are implementing Union law.
The Charter: Charter of Fundamental Rights 14.12.07.pdf
Link to: Europa
February 2007 Equalities Review
The Equalities Review - Fairness and Freedom: the Final Report of the Equalities Review was published on 28th February 2007. Equality_Review_07.pdf
