Creating a fairer Britain
06 July 2010
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has today welcomed Diane Mulligan’s selection as the UK candidate for the UN expert committee on the rights of disabled people. Diane is being put forward for the role by Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People.
If she is successfully elected by the UN in 2012, Diane would join a panel of 12 independent experts recognised in the field of human rights who monitor how well countries around the world are implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The UK signed up to this treaty last year.
Diane is a long-serving member of the Commission’s Disability Committee. She is leading its work on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and is representing the Commission on this work in the UK, in Europe and at the UN. Her expertise helped to secure the Commission’s role as Chair of the working group on the UN’s disability convention, leading the other National Human Rights Institutions in Europe.
Mike Smith, chair of the Commission’s Disability Committee said:
'It’s a huge credit to the work that Diane has done on disabled people’s rights that she is being put forward by the Minister as a candidate for the UN committee for 2012. She’ll be up against candidates from around the world who are also leaders in this field. We look forward to working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Office for Disability Issues, disabled people's organisations and others in supporting Diane throughout the selection process.'
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For more press information contact the Commission’s media office on 020 3117 0255, out of hours 07767 272 818.
For general enquiries please contact the Commission’s national helpline: England 0845 604 6610, Scotland 0845 604 5510 or Wales 0845 604 8810.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a UN accredited human rights body. It has specific responsibilities to promote and monitor implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which the UK government ratified last year.
The Disability Committee is integral and essential to the work of the Commission.
The 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. It 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 Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status, and encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act. It also gives advice and guidance to businesses, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals. www.equalityhumanrights.com