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November 2021


November news from the Equality and Human Rights Commission


New legal fund launched to tackle race discrimination


This week we launched a landmark fund to tackle race discrimination and help victims seek justice. Through this fund we will provide vital support for court cases including funding and legal expertise. This fund will be open for a minimum of two years and legal practitioners will be able to apply from December for support towards their clients’ cases.


This new fund to tackle race discrimination follows the success of our previous work providing support to disabled people [link removed]  who have experienced discrimination and those who have been discriminated against by education providers [link removed]  and transport operators [link removed] .


Find out more about our new legal fund [link removed]


Our response to incidents of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club


Following reports of incidents of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC), in our role as enforcer of the Equality Act, we have written to YCCC asking for further information.


“As Britain’s equality regulator, we are deeply concerned about the incidents of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. We have written to YCCC to ask for more information, including a full copy of their investigation report, to determine if there has been a breach of the law. We will take action if so. All employers have a duty to protect their employees from bullying and harassment. We met the English Cricket Board in April to discuss how this can be achieved in the sport.” - Marcial Boo, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.


Read our statement to Yorkshire County Cricket Club [link removed]


EHRC blog: How our evidence team investigates equality and human rights


Our Research Principal, Ewan Devine-Kennedy, provides a blog looking at the work of our evidence team and how they ensure that the evidence we use is accurate and stands up to scrutiny.


The blog explores our current priorities for research, how we ensure evidence is sourced from robust sources and how the work of the evidence team informs the strategy of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.


Read the blog from our evidence team [link removed]


Our joint statement on climate change with UK NHRI's


This month, during the UN Climate Change Conference 2021 (COP26), we released a joint statement with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Human Rights Commission on the human rights implications of the climate crisis.


Our statement recommends that the UK Government commits to its human rights obligations to prevent the foreseeable adverse effects of climate change and ensure that those affected by it, particularly young people and those in vulnerable situations, have access to effective remedies and means of adaptation to enjoy lives of human dignity.


Read our joint statement on climate change [link removed]


Opinion piece: EHRC Chairwoman


Politics Home shared an opinion piece from our Chairwoman, Kishwer Falkner, calling for equality and human rights to be put at the heart of discussions on climate change during COP26.


The article highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, children, disabled people and older people.


Read the opinion piece on climate change [link removed]


Update on our legal agreement with DWP


In August 2020, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) entered into a legally binding agreement with us to improve support for deaf customers accessing its services by telephone.


We monitored DWP’s action plan on a monthly basis and it has delivered some important improvements to DWP services, including the expansion of a Video Relay Service for British Sign Language users to all DWP service lines and the creation of a central web page on GOV.UK providing information about available reasonable adjustments. The page is available here [link removed] .


Find out more about our legal agreement with DWP [link removed]


Opinion piece: Future of Social Care


In October 2021, we submitted our response [link removed] to the Scottish Government consultation on proposals to create a National Care Service.


Our Scotland Legal Senior Principal, Lynn Welsh, has provided a blog for the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland on the future of social care and why equality must be at the heart of a new care service in Scotland.


Read the blog on the future of social care in Scotland [link removed]


EHRC representing National Human Rights Institutions from across Europe on Accreditation Panel


This autumn, our Chief Operating Officer, Cath Denholm has officially taken up a role on the international panel which accredits National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).


The Sub-Committee on Accreditation is a United Nations mechanism, coordinated by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. It examines the work of NHRIs from around the world to ensure they are working to the highest standards of independence and effectiveness. Working alongside colleagues from New Zealand, Morocco and Guatemala, Cath is representing NHRIs from Europe.


Speaking on her work, Cath Denholm said: “I am proud to represent the NHRIs of Europe on the Sub-Committee on Accreditation. This role enables EHRC to play an important part in the international human rights landscape and to support the work of our colleagues to protect and promote human rights around the world.”


The EHRC is an ‘A’ Status National Human Rights Institution (the highest standard of accreditation).


Read more about the Sub-Committee on Accreditation [link removed]


Virtual session: how NHRIs and Parliaments can work together to protect and promote disability rights


In our capacity as a National Human Rights Institution, we continue to chair the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (CFNHRI) [link removed] because of the postponement of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. After consultation with member institutions, one of the areas the CFNHRI has focused on is promoting the rights of disabled people through the COVID-19 pandemic.


Earlier this year, the CFNHRI released a report showcasing examples of good practice from NHRIs across the Commonwealth. Read the report on the CFNHRI website [link removed] .


Join CFNHRI members and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities network on Thursday 2 December ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities for a virtual session on how NHRIs and Parliaments can work together to protect and promote disability rights.


Register for the session via Zoom [link removed]


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Equality and Human Rights Commission
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