If you have trouble accessing this email, please use the web version [ [link removed] ]


29 July 2022


News from the Equality and Human Rights Commission


Our Annual Report 2021-22


This month we published our annual report and accounts for 2021-22, summarising our work over the past year in England, Scotland and Wales to protect equality and human rights.


From our landmark legal fund to support prosecutions against race discrimination to binding legal agreements that protect staff at work from sexual harassment, we have used our power and influence to change behaviour, improve practices and right wrongs in the private sector, public sector, charities and governments.


The COVID-19 pandemic had significant implications for equality and human rights. We worked to understand and reduce the negative impact of the pandemic on those with protected characteristics and ensure that equality and human rights are central to Britain’s post-pandemic response and recovery.


Read our Annual Report [link removed]


Challenging the inappropriate detention of patients in secure hospitals


Earlier this week, we wrote to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to set out our concerns with their recently-published Building Better Support plan.


The plan, which was delayed for two years by COVID-19, is designed to address the number of patients inappropriately detained in secure hospitals. Unfortunately, it falls well short of what is needed.


Our concerns with the plan include the suggestion that in a few circumstances, people will be admitted to a hospital rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission. We are also concerned that the timescales for delivery are not urgent enough, particularly in light of the apparent breaches of human rights in in-patient settings reported over years.


Read the press release [link removed]


Gender pay gap data:


28 organisations yet to report for 2022


Earlier this month, we named the 28 organisations that were yet to comply with their legal obligation and report their gender pay gap data for 2021–22, following the 30 March and 4 April deadlines. The list included one-stop shopping giant Costco and aviation business Swissport.


Organisations that do not publish the data receive warning notices that we may start formal enforcement action, including investigations, to determine if they are in breach of the law, and an enforceable action plan to ensure they comply. If they fail to implement the action plan, we can seek a court order to impose unlimited fines.


Read more about our gender pay gap enforcement work [link removed]


Post-pandemic economic growth:


Giving evidence at the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee


We recently gave evidence to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee about post-pandemic growth and the UK’s labour market.


We welcomed the commitments that the UK Government has made to increase protections for workers, set out opportunities and funding to build skills, and improve capacity to support economic growth.


However, in our written evidence, we expressed concerned that there has been a lack of urgency to implement these promises, and some schemes do not fully consider the equality and human rights implications.


Read our full response [link removed]


Possible race discrimination - Pontins holiday parks investigation


As you may know, we are formally investigating Pontins holiday parks due to continued concerns about discrimination against Gypsies and Travellers.


If you have evidence which should be considered in this investigation, please send it to: [email protected] [ mailto:[email protected]?subject=Pontins%20investigation ]


Investigators are looking at:


Whether Pontins has committed race discrimination against Gypsy and Traveller guests, prospective guests or their associates in how it provides its services,


Whether Pontins’ booking policies directly or indirectly discriminate on the basis of race, including a requirement that guests, or prospective guests, are on the electoral register,


Whether Pontins’ intelligence, information and record-keeping systems are operating in a way that discriminates directly or indirectly on the basis of race.


Read more about the investigation [link removed]


Protecting human rights in care settings: evidence given to the Joint Committee for Human Rights


In November, we submitted evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ (JCHR) inquiry into protecting human rights in care settings. The Committee has now published the evidence.


In it we said that significant pressures on adult social care in England have worsened the lives of disabled people, older adults and their carers and their human rights are more at risk.


Our recommendations would keep human rights front and centre in any future plans for the sector.


View our evidence submission [link removed]


Special educational needs and disabilities system:


Consultation response


Earlier this month, we submitted evidence responding to government proposals to change the special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision system in England.


While we support the aims of the review and welcome the emphasis on an inclusive education, we have serious concerns about some proposals and have made recommendations for improvements.


We would like to see more emphasis on improving accountability within the special education needs system - making sure the current legal framework is followed, rather than looking at changing the legal framework. In our submission we also recommended that any introduction of national standards should not change or reduce the entitlements and rights that exist under the current legal framework, or raise the thresholds for interventions.


Download our consultation response (Word) [link removed]


Tackling online harms: Working with the Information Commissioner's Office


Our Chief Executive, Marcial Boo, and Lauren Coldwell, one of our Data Protection Officers, recently attended the Information Commissioner Office’s (ICO) annual Data Protection Practitioner’s Conference.


Marcial presented our work on artificial intelligence and new technologies, highlighting the risks of perpetuating bias. He also spoke about the impact of digital exclusion. Lauren spoke on an expert panel chaired by the Information Commissioner and covered topics such as job sharing the Data Protection Officer role, initial thoughts on the proposed Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, and how to build internal support for data protection that enables the goals of an organisation.


Watch Marcial's presentation [link removed]


[link removed] [link removed] [link removed] [link removed]


Equality and Human Rights Commission
Third floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0TL


Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]