A report examined the visions and objectives which a single equality body might pursue, and the principles of equality which should inform policy decisions.
Source: Sandra Fredman, The Future of Equality in Britain, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
People in two minds about their attitudes towards ethnic minority groups become more unfavourable when exposed to anti-racism advertising or arguments, according to new research.
Source: Gregory Maio, The Development of Anti-Racism Advertisements: Effects of Attitude Ambivalence and Attitude Function, Cardiff University (029 2087 6260)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A survey of all 774 judges sitting in English and Welsh courts found that 67 per cent went to public school and 60 per cent attended Oxford or Cambridge universities. Only 8 per cent are women, while fewer than 1 per cent are from an ethnic minority group.
Source: Labour Research, December 2002, Labour Research Department (020 7928 3649)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A report explored the extent to which particular minority groups lead a 'parallel existence' to that of the population as a whole, through greater rates of poverty and deprivation. It set out the facts and figures on ethnic minority poverty, and made comparisons both with the majority white population and between different groups within the ethnic minority population as a whole.
Source: Lucinda Platt, Parallel Lives? Poverty among ethnic minority groups in Britain, Child Poverty Action Group (020 7837 7979)
Links: Summary | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A study found that participants from minority ethnic groups agree the level of representation of ethnic minorities has increased within mainstream broadcasting over recent years: but they still see the need for greater representation, both of their own communities and other minority groups.
Source: Andrea Millwood Hargrave, Multicultural Broadcasting: Concept and Reality, Broadcasting Standards Commission (020 7808 1000), British Broadcasting Corporation, Independent Television Commission, and Radio Authority
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
A report on the position of Muslims in Britain called for a law against religious discrimination.
Source: Humayun Ansari, Muslims in Britain: Action Towards Equality, Minority Rights Group (020 7978 9498)
Links: Press release | Summary and link
Date: 2002-Nov
The third in a series of official annual reports used key performance management data, from across the range of government departments, to measure progress towards reducing race disadvantage in society.
Source: Race Equality in Public Services, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/4, Digest 120, paragraph 8.4
Date: 2002-Nov
The government announced that it is to recognise the Cornish language under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.
Source: Press release 5.11.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The Scottish Executive published its scheme for promoting race equality, imposing a legal duty on all public bodies to promote race equality - among both customers and employees.
Source: Working Together for Race Equality: The Scottish Executive s Race Equality Scheme, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A report said that explaining domestic violence in terms of culture can lead to assumptions being made about women's roles and may ignore sexist and racist barriers that prevent access to services.
Source: Khatidja Chantler, and Sophie Smailes, Domestic Violence and Minoritisation - Supporting women to independence, Women's Studies Research Centre/Manchester Metropolitan University (0161 247 2535)
Links: Community Care article
Date: 2002-Nov
While acknowledging that the United Kingdom has developed a raft of anti-discrimination laws, an international report said that Muslims still suffer disproportionately from social exclusion and face public services that fail to take adequate account of their needs.
Source: Monitoring Minority Protection in the EU: The Situation of Muslims in the UK, Open Society Institute/Central European University (Budapest) (+36 1327 3100)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
An Audit Commission report asserted a strong business case for greater diversity in the public sector: public sector services need to develop a more diverse workforce in line with recent legislative changes, and to be able to provide more appropriate services to an increasingly diverse population with varying needs.
Source: Directions in Diversity: Current opinion and good practice, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
According to a review of recent research studies, better representation of black people in politics would be more likely to encourage people from black and minority ethnic communities to vote than changes to the voting system.
Source: Kingsley Purdam and Ed Fieldhouse, Voter Engagement among Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, Electoral Commission (020 7271 0500)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A government consultation document considered the contribution of equality institutions to making equal opportunities a reality and to promoting equality and diversity across society; and set out a range of options for future structures for these institutions, including a single equality commission. A second consultation document outlined proposed changes in the law to implement European anti-discrimination directives relating to employment.
Source: Equality and Diversity: Making it Happen, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500) | Equality and Diversity: The Way Ahead, Department of Trade and Industry
Links: Making it Happen | Way Ahead (rtf) | Way Ahead: Summary (pdf) | Index to draft regulations | ODPM press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 7.2
Date: 2002-Oct
Paul Boateng became the United Kingdom's first black cabinet minister.
Source: The Independent, 30.5.02
Links: No link
Date: 2002-May
The government began consultation on proposals to merge the three main equality commissions (Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission, and Equal Opportunities Commission) into a single body.
Source: Press release 15.5.02, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527)
Links: Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2002-May
An audit report criticised slow progress by local authorities on improving equality and diversity.
Source: Equality and Diversity: Learning from Audit, Inspection and Research, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-May
The police will be encouraged to prosecute parents who force their daughters to marry against their wishes.
Source: Dealing with Cases of Forced Marriage, Association of Chief Police Officers (020 7227 3434), Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Home Office
Links: Guidelines (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 8.1)
Date: 2002-May