The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is a non-departmental public body in Great Britain that was established by the Equality Act 2006 and came into being on 1 October 2007. The Commission has responsibility for the promotion and enforcement of equality and non-discrimination laws in England, Scotland and Wales. It took over the responsibilities of three former commissions: the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission (which dealt with gender equality) and the Disability Rights Commission. It also has responsibility for other aspects of equality: age, sexual orientation and religion or belief. As a national human rights institution, it seeks to promote and protect human rights in Great Britain (with the exception of matters falling within the remit of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, SHRC).
The EHRC has offices in Manchester, London, Glasgow and Cardiff. It is classed as a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Government Equalities Office, meaning that it is separate and independent from Government but still accountable for its public funds. The chairman of the Commission is Trevor Phillips, who was previously chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality.
The EHRC's functions do not extend to Northern Ireland, where there is a separate Equality Commission (ECNI) and a Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), both established under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
Read more about Equality And Human Rights Commission: Powers, International Status, Campaigns, Litigation Against The British National Party, Commissioners, Offices
Famous quotes containing the words equality and, equality, human, rights and/or commission:
“It is clear that not in one thing alone, but in many ways equality and freedom of speech are a good thing.”
—Herodotus (c. 484–424 B.C.)
“If there ever are great revolutions there, they will be caused by the presence of the blacks upon American soil. That is to say, it will not be the equality of social conditions but rather their inequality which may give rise to it.”
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859)
“Wars will remain while human nature remains. I believe in my soul in cooperation, in arbitration; but the soldier’s occupation we cannot say is gone until human nature is gone.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)
“Yesterday the Electoral Commission decided not to go behind the papers filed with the Vice-President in the case of Florida.... I read the arguments in the Congressional Record and can’t see how lawyers can differ on the question. But the decision is by a strictly party vote—eight Republicans against seven Democrats! It shows the strength of party ties.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)