15 June 2007
Proposals to restructure equality legislation need to be seen as an opportunity to tackle entrenched social inequalities, according to the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.
Commenting on the government's consultation on a single equality Bill, Trevor Phillips, chair of the discrimination watchdog, said ministers were right to attempt to simplify the complex web of existing legislation.
But he added: 'This should be an opportunity to do something more ambitious than simply ensuring that women get a place at the bar in the local golf club.
'The legislation emerging from the oncoming debate should help us to tackle the deep-seated inequalities that leave women with children facing intolerable barriers in reconciling family life and work; that condemn disabled and ethnic minority Britons to failure at school; and that increasingly cut off poor communities of all kinds and races from economic prosperity.'
The Discrimination Law Review, published on June 12, has two aims: to prevent discrimination from happening by making equality law clearer and to consult on whether there are significant gaps in protection where the government should legislate.
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said: 'Equality law is not some abstract concept. It is about how every one of us is treated at work, as a customer and a consumer, and by our public services.
'For over 40 years, laws have been introduced in a piecemeal fashion and have as a result become overlapping and less clear. So it is right we have this review to ensure the laws which govern how people are treated in their everyday lives are as clear and effective as possible.'
The consultation will also explore whether the existing equality duties on public bodies need to be made more effective, and whether they could be extended to new areas.
Also this week, doctors' leaders called on medical professionals to take a lead on the disability equality agenda. The British Medical Association said that because many disabled people were more prone to illness and likely to die prematurely, doctors had to take action to ensure greater equality of outcome.
Dr Sam Everington, co-chair of the BMA's equal opportunities committee, said: 'Our report provides doctors with information on how the health care they provide to their disabled patients can be optimised and how to develop more inclusive and flexible ways of working that meet their needs.
'It is essential that political will and resources support this approach.'
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