The Commission has today launched its new YouTube channel, which can be found here: www.youtube.com/EqualityHumanRights
The Commission will use this and other social networking sites to tell people about our work promoting fairness, equality and human rights.
The new channel will feature a range of video clips relating to the Commission’s work, including a series of stories called Equally Different.
Equally Different features people from all walks of life, including some well-known faces, talking about why fairness is everyone’s right.
Gok Wan, of Channel 4’s How to Look Good Naked, talks about what it was like to grow up ‘gay, half Chinese and fat’. Famous faces include comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE, as well as artists Alison Lapper and Grayson Perry. Other video clips feature, amongst others, a Holocaust survivor, a gay father and an Asian lesbian couple who have just married in a civil ceremony.
Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Commission, said: ‘I am delighted that the Commission has joined the social networking era. Using sites like YouTube we want to show people how we can help them in their daily lives. We want to start a conversation about the issues we tackle.’
‘We will add to the channel over time – clips from important speeches, interviews with staff, or mini-films of projects we fund in the community.’
‘I hope viewers post their views on the clips and tell us what they’d like to see.’
Nicola Brewer, Chief Executive of the Commission, said: ‘We’re in the business of changing preconceptions and prejudice, something we’d like to continue to do through these wonderful clips, which are truly inspiring.’
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Notes to Editors
The Commission’s YouTube channel was launched on 2 April. The channel is part of the Commission’s digital strategy which will use social networks such as You Tube and Facebook and podcast sites such as iTunes and Podtech. The YouTube channel is Commission branded and will carry video clips of its work.
New clips will be published on the site regularly.
More information about Equally Different can be found here: www.equalityhumanrights.com/equallydifferent
The Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the independent advocate for equality and human rights in Britain. It aims to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen good relations between people, and promote and protect human rights.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission will enforce equality legislation on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status, and encourage compliance with the Human Rights Act. It will also give advice and guidance to businesses, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals.
For more information contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission Media Office on 02031170255 out of hours 07767272818.