Equality and Human Rights Commission
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Third Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street London SW1H 0TL United Kingdom
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en
international@equalityhumanrights.com
+44161 829 8100
English
The Equality and Human Rights Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. It encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 and is accredited by the UN as an ‘A status’ National Human Rights Institution.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006.The Commission was launched on 1 October 2007, following the merger of the former Equal Opportunities Commission, Commission for Racial Equality, and the Disability Rights Commission.
The Commission operates independently to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and protect and promote human rights. Our sponsor government department is the Home Office (Ministry of the Interior).
Britain is fortunate to have a strong equality and human rights legal framework to protect people from discrimination and violations of their basic rights and freedoms. However, the experiences of many people across England, Scotland and Wales often do not reflect what is set out in law.
It is the Commission’s role to make these rights and freedoms a reality for everyone. We use a range of powers to do so, by providing advice and guidance to individuals, employers and other organisations, reviewing the effectiveness of the law and taking legal enforcement action to clarify the law and address significant breaches of rights.
Further details on achievements over the last 10 years available at the following address: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/what-we-do/our-achievements.
Private, Public
Bringing proceedings in the name of the equality body [with or without an identifiable victim], Representing victims of discrimination before the courts, Amicus curiae brief or similar
Field | Grounds | |
---|---|---|
Pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership. Please note marriage and civil partnership are only covered in employment. Also for "other field of life" the UK law covers Associations.
Multi-mandate equality body
National human rights institution, Equality Body, Designated as independent mechanism under UN CRPD Article 33(2)
Collegiate headed equality body (led by a distinct board/commission)
Strategic direction is given by the Board of Commissioners led by the Chair. The Board is responsible for approving the strategic plan, monitoring performance against the plan and ensuring appropriate systems of governance, accountability and control.
The EHRC works in conjunction with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI), the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC).
Commissioners are recruited by open competition for a time limited period.
Senior staff members are recruited by open competition.
This institution does not have regional officies.
National Ministry