Campaigners said the government's proposals for identity cards altered the relationship between the citizen and the state, and that it was inevitable that minorities (especially racial minorities) would suffer discrimination as a result.
Source: Liberty's Evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on the Government's Identity Card Proposals, Liberty (020 7403 3888)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
A discussion paper contained articles on different aspects of child poverty within black and ethnic minority communities. By every measure of poverty, including housing, worklessness and the Families and Children Study index of hardship, ethnic minority children were more likely to live in households prone to hardship and marked by disadvantage and persistent low income.
Source: Claire Kober (ed.), Black and Ethnic Minority Children and Poverty: Exploring the issues, National Children s Bureau (020 7843 6000) for End Child Poverty
Links: Discussion paper (pdf) | ECP press release
Date: 2003-Dec
Researchers examined barriers to benefit take-up among pensioners from black and minority ethnic groups. Problems identified included language barriers, concerns about the impact of claiming on residency status, and difficulties arising from not having a national insurance number (this particularly affected Asian women).
Source: Helen Barnard and Nick Pettigrew, Delivering Benefits and Services to Black and Minority Ethnic Older People, Research Report 201, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf links | Summary (pdf) | DWP press release
Date: 2003-Dec
A report said that while one third of Scotland's public bodies were leading the way with focused action on the duty to promote race equality, just under a third had given weak 'off-the peg' responses.
Source: Towards Racial Equality in Scotland: Are public authorities meeting the duty to promote race equality?, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Summary (pdf) | CRE press release
Date: 2003-Dec
A report said that by every measure of poverty used (including housing, worklessness and the unique Families and Children Study index of hardship) ethnic minority children were more likely to live in households prone to hardship and to be marked by disadvantage and persistent low income.
Source: Claire Kober (ed.), Black and Ethnic Minority Children and Poverty, End Child Poverty (020 7843 1913)
Links: Report (pdf) | PSI press release
Date: 2003-Dec
Research and guidance was published for transport providers on how to make public transport more accessible to ethnic minority and faith groups. Many people from ethnic minorities felt deterred from using public transport due to language barriers and fears about personal safety.
Source: Social Research Associates, Public Transport Needs of Minority Ethnic and Faith Communities: Guidance Pack, Department for Transport (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf) | DT press release
Date: 2003-Nov
A report examined how ethnic minority claimants who were either disabled or caring for a disabled person experienced the benefits system. It focused on non-English speaking claimants especially Asian women and the ways in which the benefits system disadvantaged them because of their ethnicity, language and literacy skills, social isolation, cultural attributes and gender. It identified a number of 'serious deficiencies' in the existing system.
Source: Out of Sight: Race inequality in the benefits system, Disability Alliance (020 7247 8776)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Nov
The Welsh Assembly government began consultation on a new race equality scheme covering its work.
Source: Promoting Race Equality: Consultation on a new race equality scheme for the National Assembly for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
A study examined the intergenerational social mobility of different ethnic groups in Britain between 1971 and 1991. It found that the relative importance of class origin varied with ethnicity; at the same time class origins could be found to operate in consistent ways across groups. It also found that for women the impact of ethnicity was much less salient in determining outcomes than it was for men.
Source: Lucinda Platt, The Intergenerational Social Mobility of Minority Ethnic Groups, Working Paper 2003-24, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex (01206 873087)
Links: Working paper (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
A study found that a mother's age at first birth had little effect on the poverty experienced by ethnic minorities. The disadvantaged outcomes of teenage motherhood within the white community appeared to be associated with the young women s departure from the dominant social norm. But while early fertility was the norm in a minority community, it did not lead to any further disadvantage beyond that experienced by the ethnic group as a whole.
Source: Karen Robson and Richard Berthoud, Early Motherhood and Disadvantage: Comparison between ethnic groups, Working Paper 2003-29, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex (01206 873087)
Links: Working paper (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
The government said that it had decided (following consultation) to establish a single equality body incorporating the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. It said the new body would provide an 'effective and flexible framework' for supporting equality legislation as well as underlining the importance of equality as a mainstream concern. The working title of the new body would be the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The Disability Rights Commission broadly welcomed the new commission, but raised concerns over 'unresolved' issues concerning the commission's structure. The Equal Opportunities Commission warned that a single equality and human rights body that was not backed up by stronger laws on sex equality would send a message to women that sex equality was not regarded as a priority. The Commission for Racial Equality said it welcomed the new commission, provided it had the power, the resources and the will to address race equality issues vigorously.
Source: Equality Institutions Review: A Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Women and Equality Unit/Department of Trade and Industry (0845 001 0029) | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 30 October 2003, columns 17-19WS, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 30 October 2003, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633) | Press release 29 October 2003, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244) | Statement 30 October 2003, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Report | Hansard | DTI press release | DRC press release | EOC press release | CRE statement | Stonewall press release | Mind press release | Age Concern press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Oct
The Commission for Racial Equality began consultation on its strategy for Gypsies and Travellers. It said 'extreme levels of public hostility' existed in relation to Gypsies and Travellers, fuelled in part by 'irresponsible media reporting'.
Source: Gypsies and Travellers A Strategy, 2003-2006: Consultation draft, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Report (Word file) | Summary (Word file) | CRE press release
Date: 2003-Oct
A collection of essays examined inspection and regulation for race equality from a range of perspectives.
Source: Guardians of Race Equality: Perspectives on inspection and regulation, Runnymede Trust (020 7377 9222)
Links: Contents and introduction (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2003-Sep
Representatives of black police officers warned ethnic minority people not to join the Metropolitan Police force (in London), following the complete acquittal of an ethnic minority police superintendent after a four-year investigation by the force into a wide range of allegations against him. The first black chief constable was appointed (in Kent).
Source: The Guardian, 16 September 2003 | Press release 15 September 2003, National Black Police Association (020 7273 3249)
Links: Guardian report | NBPA press release (1) | NBPA press release (2)
Date: 2003-Sep
A United Nations report described race discrimination laws in the United Kingdom as 'complex', and said they failed to give full coverage to discrimination on grounds of colour and nationality. It called for the introduction of 'a single comprehensive law consolidating primary and secondary legislation, to provide for the same protection from all forms of racial discrimination', so as to comply with international law.
Source: Consideration of Report Submitted by States Parties under Article 9 of the Convention: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, CERD/C/63/CO/11, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination/United Nations (+4 122 917 9000)
Links: Report (pdf) | UN press release | JUSTICE press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
The Department for Work and Pensions published a strategy document on the promotion of racial equality in its areas of operation - both in the services provided and as an employer.
Source: Realising Race Equality in the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8894)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2003-Jul
The Commission for Racial Equality said that just under a third of public bodies had given a 'weak' response to new duties to promote racial equality. A significant number had not done anything to comply with the law. (From April 2001, the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000) required public bodies - including all local authorities, government departments, health trusts, police forces, education bodies and schools - to make improvements on race equality across their activities.)
Source: Towards Racial Equality: Evaluation of the public duty to promote race equality and good race relations in England and Wales (2002), Commission for Racial Equality (0870 240 3697)
Links: Summary (pdf) | CRE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jul
New regulations came into force on 19 July 2003, strengthening protection from racial discrimination and harassment. They incorporated a European Union race directive into United Kingdom law by making changes to the Race Relations Act 1976. The main changes were: a new definition of indirect discrimination on grounds of race or ethnic/national origin; a new, statutory definition of harassment on grounds of race or ethnic/national origin; a new exception from the prohibition to discriminate in employment where being of a particular race or of a particular ethnic/national origin was a genuine and determining requirement for the employment in question; continuing protection from discrimination and harassment after a relationship protected under the Race Relations Act came to an end (for example, when employment ceased); and a new statutory burden of proof in tribunal or court proceedings concerning discrimination or harassment on grounds of race or ethnic or national origin. Employment consultants warned of the danger of confusion, because the regulations covered discrimination in relation to ethnic/national origin and race, but not colour or nationality.
Source: Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003, Statutory Instrument 2003/1626, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 21.7.03, Mercer Human Resource Consulting (020 7963 3127)
Links: Statutory Instrument | CRE explanatory note | Mercer press release
Date: 2003-Jul
The race relations watchdog (the Commission for Racial Equality) issued its first compliance notice against a public body (Conwy county borough council in north Wales) for failing to produce a race equality policy. (Under powers given to it in 2002, the CRE became responsible for ensuring that all public authorities, including councils, National Health Service trusts and government departments, take account of racial equality in their day-to-day work.)
Source: Statement 15.5.03, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000) | The Guardian, 28.5.03
Links: CRE statement | Guardian report
Date: 2003-May
Researchers examined the role of the 'Sporting Equals' standard, and the development of race equality policies in key sports organisations in England. It was found that there was greater recognition of race equality issues in sport as a result of the standard. ('Sporting Equals' was a national initiative, launched in 1999, to promote race equality in sport throughout England, based on a partnership between Sport England and the Commission for Racial Equality.)
Source: Jonathan Long et al., Raising the Standard: Evaluation of progress, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Summary | CRE press release
Date: 2003-May
Researchers said that the impact of racism should be properly considered when attempts were made to measure the quality of life of older people among Britain's ethnic minorities.
Source: Jabeer Butt, Quality of Life and Social Support among People from Different Ethnic Groups, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC Press Release
Date: 2003-May
A report said that racism continued to present problems within the United Kingdom. It said that, while the government recognised the negative impact of racism and had backed this up with anti-discrimination legislation and additional resources, these gains were constantly undermined by the negative impact created by the asylum and immigration debate.
Source: Gay Moon, ENAR Shadow Report 2002: Racism and race relations in the UK, European Network against Racism, available from JUSTICE (020 7329 5100)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Apr
Research identified a scarcity of support groups for gay, lesbian and other non-heterosexual Muslims.
Source: Andrew Yip, A Minority within a Minority: British non-heterosexual Muslims, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC Press Release
Date: 2003-Apr
The Commission for Racial Equality said (responding to a government consultation) that it supported the establishment of a 'flexible, dynamic and well-resourced' single equality body: but it argued against a 'big bang' approach to the introduction of the new body.
Source: Making it Happen: Response, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Response (Word file) | Press release
Date: 2003-Mar
Responding to a government consultation on revising the English indices of deprivation, a think tank said that the index of multiple deprivation was not suited for use in budget allocation by third parties; that changes to indicators should only be made if the benefits were clear, major and unambiguous - and that some of the proposed changes failed against this principle; and that serious consideration should be given to introducing a new ethnic domain.
Source: Updating the English Indices of Deprivation: Response, New Policy Institute (020 7721 8421)
Links: Response
Date: 2003-Feb
The Home Office produced a guide on good practice in racism awareness training, based on the findings of a research report arising from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. (Stephen Lawrence was the victim of a racist murder in London in 1993.)
Source: Training in Racism Awareness and Cultural Diversity, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | Penny Tamkin et al., Review of Training in Racism Awareness and Valuing Cultural Diversity, On-line Report 09/02, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Guide (pdf) | Research report (pdf) | Research appendices (pdf) | Lawrence Inquiry report
Date: 2003-Feb