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30 June 2022
News from the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Biennial meeting of the Commonwealth Forum for National Human Rights Institutions in Kigali
Earlier this month, colleagues at the Commission, including our Chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner, attended the biennial meeting of the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (CFNHRI) in Kigali, Rwanda. At the meeting on 16-17 June, we formally handed chairship of CFNHRI to the Rwanda National Commission for Human Rights.
Representatives from 27 National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from across the Commonwealth attended the meeting and discussed upholding human rights during the Covid-19 pandemic and in future international emergencies. Delegates also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, to learn more about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and to pay respect to the more than 250,000 victims who are buried at the memorial.
The two-day meeting concluded with delegates issuing the ‘Kigali Declaration on upholding human rights during a pandemic and other global crises’, calling upon the Commonwealth heads of government to recognise the importance of putting human rights for all at the heart of recovery from a pandemic or any global crisis.
Read the Kigali Declaration [link removed]
Experiences from health and social care: treatment of lower-paid ethnic minority workers
We recently published the findings from our inquiry into the treatment of lower-paid ethnic minority workers in health and social care.
We found a workforce that is treated unequally, where people lack awareness of their rights and where people fear reporting concerns or making complaints about working conditions, including experiences of racial harassment.
Our report makes key recommendations for action by the health and social care sectors to address these issues.
Our recommendations include developing accessible ways for workers to raise concerns and access redress if they believe they have experienced discrimination. We also recommend developing national structures for better data collection on the health and social care workforce, including equality data and employment outcomes and experiences, to ensure workplace equality for all and targeted steps to support lower-paid ethnic minority workers.
Read our inquiry report [link removed]
New contract opportunity for civil society organisations in England and Wales - International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Around every five years, the UN reviews how well each state is putting into practice the rights in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) [link removed] .
National Human Rights Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations are encouraged to submit ‘shadow’ reports that set out an alternative, fact-based view of the measures taken by the state to implement ICESCR.
We are seeking to fund a civil society organisation to prepare an independent shadow response on ICESCR, on behalf of civil society organisations in England and Wales, which will support their ability to defend the equal enjoyment of these rights and to hold governments to account.
Applications must be submitted by 1pm on Wednesday 6 July 2022.
View details of the opportunity and how to apply [link removed]
Inquiry into the Invisibility of Social Care:
Evidence submitted to Lords Adult Social Care Committee
Earlier this month, we submitted evidence to the Lords Adult Social Care Committee’s Inquiry into the Invisibility of Social Care.
In it, we say that those who draw on care should be understood and treated as rights holders, entitled to support to live independently as part of the community, to non-discrimination, and to redress when their rights are not met.
We also note that better support is needed for unpaid carers, including with respect to their employment rights. Alongside this, we say that the issues identified in our inquiry ‘Experiences from health and social care: the treatment of lower paid ethnic minority workers’ [link removed] must be addressed. Our response also sets out a series of guiding principles for an approach to social care based on equality and human rights.
Our evidence will be published by the Committee, following consideration. It has also been shared with the team working on our ongoing inquiry into challenging decisions about adult social care.
Read more about our ongoing inquiry into challenging decisions about adult social care [link removed]
New Human Rights Ombudsperson: Giving evidence at the Joint Committee for Human Rights (JCHR)
This week, we gave evidence to the Joint Committee for Human Rights (JCHR), recommending that the human rights capabilities of existing ombudsperson functions be strengthened, rather than a new human rights ombudsperson position created. We believe this would be the most efficient and effective approach to protecting and promoting human rights in the UK, as well as the most achievable.
Our Chief Strategy Officer, Melanie Field, represented the Commission and referenced our response to the UK Government's Bill of Rights consultation in our evidence.
Download our response to the Bill of Rights consultation (Word) [link removed]
Legal Support Scheme:
Help with race discrimination cases
We are offering funding for race discrimination, harassment and victimisation cases through our Legal Support Scheme.
A high percentage of ethnic minority people in Britain have experienced prejudice and discrimination. We want to improve outcomes for victims of race harassment and discrimination.
The Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) can now help individuals with race discrimination cases access our Legal Support Scheme.
Legal practitioners can apply directly to us for support towards their clients' cases.
See more information on our Legal Support Scheme [link removed]
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Equality and Human Rights Commission
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