Welcome to the January edition of the Commission's email newsletter, Equality and Human Rights News.
The Commission has published new guidance to help public authorities in England and non-devolved bodies in Scotland and Wales prepare for the new equality duty which comes into force on 6 April 2011. The new duty includes age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. The Commission's guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty is the latest in its series of publications that explain the Equality Act 2010. We will also be consulting on a new Code of Practice for Education from 1 February 2011.
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A gay couple have won their discrimination claim against the owners of a hotel in a landmark judgment in the Bristol County Court in a case which was funded and led by the Commission.
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The Commission has been gathering evidence to build a picture of human rights and homecare for the over 65s in England. Due to the high volume of responses, the Inquiry's official Call for Evidence stage has now been extended to Friday 4 March 2011.
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The Commission has launched an Inquiry to try to identify the nature and extent of human trafficking in Scotland. We are taking a particular interest in policy and practice against human trafficking in Scotland in the areas of asylum, law investigation and enforcement, and services for victims.
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The Commission will be undertaking a Section 31 Assessment of HM Treasury - a formal Assessment of the extent to which HM Treasury has met its obligations under the public sector equality duties when considering the impact of decisions contained in the Spending Review.
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CEDAW - the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women - is an important mechanism for strengthening women's rights in the UK. The Commission has recently published guidance on the Convention.
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The Commission will continue to monitor any changes to the BNP's constitution to ensure membership is made genuinely accessible.
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The Commission has raised a number of points about the Public Bodies Bill which is currently making its way through Parliament. The Bill seeks to provide ministers with the power to abolish, merge or modify the functions, constitution and funding arrangements of a range of public bodies.
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The Commission has published new research on the role of Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and Local Area Agreements (LAAs) in promoting equalities. The study, led by Hilary Russell of Liverpool John Moore's European Institute for Urban Affairs, aims to highlight good practice.
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The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
February, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle. Read more
Working Better with the Equality Act
Tuesday 22 March, Glasgow. For more information email: Scotlandcommunication@equalityhumanrights.com
Putting the Equality Duty into practice: legal analysis
Friday 4 February, University of Strathclyde. For more information email: karen.brough@shepwedd.co.uk
Independent Living in Scotland Festival
Thursday 17 February, Glasgow. For further information email: events@patonprojectservices.co.uk or visit www.ilis.co.uk