Fact
File 
Disability
Rights Commission and Commission for Equality and Human
Rights
The
Disability Rights Commission (DRC) closes at
the end of September 2007, to make way for the new Commission
for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), established
under the Equality Act 2006, which opens on 1 October 2007
The
new Commission replaces not only the DRC but also
the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and the
Commission for Racial Equality (CRE). It will work
to promote fairness for everyone and tackle discrimination
in relation to gender, gender reassignment, disability,
sexual orientation, religion, belief, age and race. The
Commission will also promote human rights.
The
new Commission will be a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB)
and independent influential champion whose purpose is to
reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen
good relations between people and protect human rights.
The CEHR will take an active role in helping to achieve
change to benefit some of the most vulnerable and least
well represented people in our society.
The
CEHR will bring together the work of the three existing
Commissions, the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE),
Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and Equal Opportunities
Commission (EOC) in this new body.
The
CEHR will take on all of the powers of the existing
Commissions as well as new powers to enforce legislation
more effectively and promote equality for all. The Commission
will champion the diverse communities that make up modern
Britain in their struggle against discrimination.
It will also promote awareness and understanding of human
rights and encourage good practice by public authorities
in meeting their Human Rights Act obligations. New powers
to take human rights cases will give a new arrow to the
bow of many minorities who suffer discrimination.
The Commission will cover England, Scotland and Wales. In
Scotland and Wales there will be statutory committees responsible
for the work of the CEHR.
A
single commission will have many benefits, including:
