A new book examined equality, discrimination, and human rights in relation to employability and 'welfare-to-work' policies. It considered obstacles to labour market access around each of the following themes: gender and class; disability; race and ethnicity; geographical exclusion; sexual orientation; the problems of old and young people; and refugees.
Source: Mick Carpenter, Belinda Freda and Stuart Speeden (eds.), Beyond the Workfare State: Labour markets, equalities and human rights, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Dec
An article examined the implementation in the United Kingdom of European Union provisions on discriminatory harassment (Directives, adopted in 2000, prohibiting discrimination, harassment and victimization on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation). Aspects of the new law were vulnerable to judicial review challenges of various kinds; and the correct interpretation of important elements was also unclear.
Source: Lizzie Barmes, 'Constitutional and conceptual complexities in UK implementation of the EU harassment provisions', Industrial Law Journal, Volume 36 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Dec
A report examined discriminatory attitudes in Scotland in 2006 – the extent and character of discriminatory attitudes, and why people held them. 29 per cent of people said that sometimes there was good reason to be prejudiced. The majority (65 per cent) said that Scotland should do everything it could to get rid of all kinds of prejudice.
Source: Catherine Bromley, John Curtice and Lisa Given, Attitudes to Discrimination in Scotland: 2006, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | Summary | EHRC press release
Date: 2007-Dec
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on equality. It highlighted the new equalities public service agreement, published in October 2007, aimed at addressing the disadvantage that individuals experienced because of their gender, race, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
Source: Equality: The government's response to the report of the Communities and Local Government Committee, Cm 7246, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | Hansard | MPs report
Date: 2007-Nov
A report examined the impact of the public sector equality duties, and how they had influenced the equalities agenda within public sector organizations. Many organizations had applied the lessons they had learned from the race equality duty to support the implementation of the disability and the gender equality duties – particularly in the context of community engagement and involvement, and when addressing employee monitoring, recruitment, and development.
Source: Anjana Nathwani et al., The Public Sector Equality Duties: Making an Impact, Schneider Ross Limited (01264 882400)
Links: Summary | Schneider press release | CSCI press release
Date: 2007-Nov
The Office for National Statistics published a review of the data used by government to help understand and tackle inequality. Although there was more equality information available than reported in an earlier government-commissioned study, there remained significant gaps to fill.
Source: Report from the Review of Equality Data, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | Summary | ONS press release
Date: 2007-Oct
The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review included a new public service agreement aimed at reducing the disadvantage that individuals experienced because of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or belief
Source: PSA Delivery Agreement 15: Address the disadvantage that individuals experience because of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HM Treasury (020 7270 4558)
Links: Agreement | ECHR press release
Date: 2007-Oct
The Equality and Human Rights Commission was formally launched on 1 October 2007. It replaced separate watchdog bodies for sexual and racial equality and for disabled people's rights.
Source: Press release 1 October 2007, Equality and Human Rights Commission (020 3117 0235)
Links: EHRC press release | PCS press release | Help the Aged press release | Scope press release | EFD press release | CBI press release | Personnel Today report
Date: 2007-Oct
An article examined the development of employment equality law. The opportunities provided by the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights and the proposed Single Equality Act should be taken to address remaining weaknesses in the legislative equality package and the limitations in enforcement approaches.
Source: Linda Dickens, 'The road is long: thirty years of equality legislation in Britain', British Journal of Industrial Relations, Volume 45 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Sep
A report examined the problems in career advancement faced by workers in certain groups, such as those based on age, disability, religion, ethnicity, and parental status – problems which could be even more acute than they were for women.
Source: Managing Diversity and the Glass Cliff, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (020 8971 9000)
Links: CIPD press release
Date: 2007-Sep
A report by a committee of MPs said that the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, due to be launched on 1 October 2007, might 'not be fully ready to take on its new work'. Indecision and delays over the creation of the new body raised concerns about the government?s commitment to equality.
Source: Equality, Sixth Report (Session 2006-07), HC 468, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Help the Aged press release | FT report | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Aug
The government announced the establishment of a new Government Equalities Office. The Women and Equalities Unit would be transferred from the Department for Communities and Local Government to the new Office: but race and faith issues would remain located with the rest of the community agenda in DCLG. Harriet Harman MP, Leader of the House of Commons, would be responsible for the Equalities Office at Cabinet, as Secretary of State for Equality.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 26 July 2007, column 108WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Personnel Today report
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined the 'very particular' way in which equality had come to be defined in Northern Ireland – indeed, how battles over its definition had became part of continuing, even intensifying, sectarian political antagonism. An alternative policy agenda was outlined, designed to tackle sectarianism and social exclusion.
Source: Robin Wilson, 'Rhetoric meets reality: Northern Ireland's equality agenda', Benefits, Volume 15 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
An article (by the Chair of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights) examined the relationship between equality and human rights. It said that choices needed to be made in politics and public policy in managing tensions between diverse individuals and groups, and that these choices should be guided by consistent principles rather than made on an ad hoc basis.
Source: Trevor Phillips, 'Equality and human rights: siblings or just rivals?', Benefits, Volume 15 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
A report summarized the outcome of work with focus groups which examined participants' views on discrimination, human rights, and community relations; and on the proposed new Commission for Equality and Human Rights, particularly in relation to local/regional engagement and the provision of information.
Source: Clare Collins, Community Consultation, Women and Equality Unit/Department of Communities and Local Government (0207 944 4400)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jun
The government began consultation on proposals for a Single Equality Bill that would unify the law on equality and discrimination, supported by clear practical guidance. Proposed measures included preventing people setting up clubs that had membership targeted at one sex or group; improving access to and use of premises for disabled people; tackling age discrimination outside employment; improving the handling of discrimination cases outside the workplace.
Source: Discrimination Law Review: A Framework for Fairness - Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236) and other departments
Links: Consultation document | DCLG press release | EOC press release | DRC press release | Scope press release | CEHR press release | Fawcett Society press release | Help the Aged press release | JUSTICE press release | BHA press release | TUC press release | CBI press release | ABI press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Personnel Today report | Guardian report | FT report
Date: 2007-Jun
An article said that the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (to be established in October 2007) would have to be flexible, creative, strategic, and tough-minded where required if it were to win credibility and ensure respect for anti-discrimination and human rights values.
Source: Colm O'Cinneide, 'The Commission for Equality and Human Rights: a new institution for new and uncertain times', Industrial Law Journal, Volume 36 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
A paper (prepared as a background paper to assist the official Equalities Review) examined the challenges involved in translating 'capability theory' into a practical measurement tool for measuring inequality. This included the definition of equality, a procedure for generating and revising a list of central and valuable capabilities, a measurement framework for monitoring trends in inequality, exploring the causes of inequality, identifying possible policy interventions, and the types of information and analysis which were required.
Source: Tania Burchardt and Polly Vizard, Definition of Equality and Framework for Measurement: Final recommendations of the Equalities Review Steering Group on Measurement, CASEpaper 120, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Links: Paper
Date: 2007-Apr
A paper (prepared as a background paper to assist the official Equalities Review) examined the need for a list of central and valuable capabilities in terms of which inequality could be conceptualized and appraised.
Source: Tania Burchardt and Polly Vizard, Developing a Capability List: Final recommendations of the Equalities Review Steering Group on Measurement, CASEpaper 121, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Links: Paper
Date: 2007-Apr
A report (prepared for the official Equalities Review) examined transgender and transsexual people's experiences of inequality and discrimination.
Source: Stephen Whittle, Lewis Turner and Maryam Al-Alami, Engendered Penalties: Transgender and transsexual people's experiences of inequality and discrimination, Equalities Review/Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Feb
A new book provided a critical analysis of victimization in society, with reference to the social divisions of class, race, age, and gender.
Source: Pamela Davies, Peter Francis and Chris Greer, Victims, Crime and Society, SAGE Publications Ltd (020 7324 8500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Feb
The final report of an official review proposed a 10-step programme to help make the United Kingdom a fairer, more equal country at ease with its diversity. Unless efforts to produce change were drastically stepped up, it could take until 2085 to close the pay gap between men and women; and on existing trends, the employment 'penalty' facing disabled people might never be eliminated.
Source: Fairness and Freedom: The final report of the Equalities Review, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | DRC press release | EOC press release | TUC press release | NCH press release | Fawcett Society press release | Help the Aged press release | RNID press release | SCOPE press release | CBI press release | CIPD press release | Personnel Today report | FT report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Feb
A series of articles examined the state of equality law, in the context of the new Equality and Human Rights Commission, and new European Union Directives.
Source: Social Policy and Society, Volume 6 Issue 1
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2007-Jan
A survey found that having a diverse workforce could help boost sales and attract recruits. 56 per cent of customers said that they would be more likely to use a business they knew to have a diverse workforce.
Source: Press release 3 January 2007, Jobcentre Plus (020 7712 2171)
Links: Jobcentre Plus press release | FT report
Date: 2007-Jan
A series of reports was published from a research project studying the development of indicators of diversity and equality in Northern Ireland. The measurement of human welfare or well-being needed to take account of the full range of 'domains' of well-being (including health, adequate material wealth, and security). Work on population inequalities needed to take account of the fact that individuals often occupied a position on several dimensions simultaneously.
Source: Roy Carr-Hill, Paul Dixon, Richard Buchanan and Jim Jamison, Indicators of Equality and Diversity In Northern Ireland: Project executive summary, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500) | Jim Jamison, Richard Buchanan, Roy Carr-Hill, Donal McDade and Paul Dixon, General Literature Review on the Development and Use of Indicators of Equality and Diversity, Northern Ireland Executive | Richard Buchanan, Donal McDade and Jim Jamison, Report of Consultation, Northern Ireland Executive | Roy Carr-Hill and Paul Dixon, Patterns of Social Difference Associated with Membership of Groups Identified by the Categories of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act, Northern Ireland Executive | Roy Carr-Hill, Richard Buchanan, Paul Dixon and Jim Jamison, Measuring Change: A technical consideration of the indicators suggested in the consultation exercise which also addresses methods for measuring inequalities, and ways forward for monitoring, Northern Ireland Executive
Links: Summary | Literature review | Consultation report | Patterns part 1 | Patterns part 2 | Patterns part 3 | Patterns part 4 | Patterns part 5 | Measuring Change
Date: 2007-Jan