Published: 18 Feb 2015
Kaliani Lyle, Scotland Commissioner today announced the appointment of two new members of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Scotland Committee. The Scotland Committee is a statutory decision-making body and is responsible for ensuring the overall work of the Commission reflects the needs and priorities of the people of Scotland. The Commission is the National Equality Body for Scotland and an 'A-status' National Human Rights Institution.
Following a competitive recruitment process, with a strong field of candidates, Ms Lyle, who chairs the Committee, today announced the appointment of Emma Ritch and Lorraine Barrie and said:
'I am delighted to welcome Emma and Lorraine to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Scotland Committee. Their expertise and experience in gender equality and the law will add hugely to the Commission’s work in Scotland. I look forward to working with them.'
Biographies
Emma Ritch
Emma Ritch is Executive Director of Engender, which is a feminist NGO working on women’s social, economic, and political equality in Scotland. Prior to this she was manager of Close the Gap for nine years, and worked extensively on women’s labour market participation. She is a member of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group, and is acting chair of the Scottish Human Rights Consortium management committee. She is chair of the board of the Rape Crisis Centre in Glasgow, and vice-chair of Rape Crisis Scotland's board. She is also a trustee of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, and the treasurer of the 50:50 campaign.
Among other working groups, she sits on the equality advisory group of Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Court Service, and a number of groups relating to the delivery of the Scottish National Action Plan for Human Rights.
Lorraine Barrie
Lorraine Barrie worked for 8 years as a solicitor in a community law centre in Glasgow, where she represented and advised clients on housing, employment, debt, welfare benefits and consumer law. She developed expertise in equality law relating to access to services by EU migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and worked to challenge discriminatory practices. In partnership with a range of stakeholders she developed drop-ins, bilingual resources and training events to increase awareness of legal rights and remedies.
She now works as Coordinator of South East Integration Network, a broad network of voluntary and statutory organisations delivering education, arts, youth and cultural activities and events in South East Glasgow. She is a Trustee of Friends of Romano Lav, a Roma-led charity based in Glasgow.
Ends
For further information please contact the Commission’s media office on 0141 228 5910.
Notes to editors
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is the National Equality Body (NEB)[1] for Scotland, England and Wales, working across the nine protected grounds set out in the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. We are an 'A-status' National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)[2], and share our human rights mandate in Scotland with our colleagues in the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC).
- The Scotland Committee is responsible for the functions delegated to it under the Equality Act 2006: The Committee’s statutory role includes:
- Advising the Commission about the exercise of its functions as they affect Scotland.
- Exercising the Commission’s power to publish information, undertake research, provide education or training, and give advice or guidance in order to promote understanding of the importance of, and encourage good practice in relation to, equality and human rights.
- Advising the Scottish Government the effectiveness of equality and human rights legislation and the effect of proposed or existing legislation of the Scottish Parliament.
In addition, the Committee supports the Scotland Commission and the Commission’s Board in:
- Informing the Commission’s Board on how its proposals will affect people living in Scotland;
- Overseeing and guiding the work of the Commission in Scotland;
- Contributing to development and implementation of the Commission's strategic and business plans.
3. Committee members are appointed for two years, with the possibility of reappointment for a further two years. The new Committee members will be paid £250 per day for approximately 12 days a year.
4. Further information on the Scotland Committee can be found here