Project Summary
This project is hosted by: Human Rights Consortium
- Research interests:
- Civil Rights, Human rights
- Regions:
- Africa, Asia, United Kingdom
- Project period:
- 01-Jun-2011 - 01-Jul-2012
- Project summary:
- This research project, which was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Human Rights Consortium, School of Advanced Study, University of London, intended to provide a timely contribution to public debate on the development of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and its future at a time when it faces significant opportunities and challenges.
The project hosted workshops, seminars and other events as a focal point for the development of a network of practitioners, policymakers, and researchers brought together by a professional and/or scholarly interest in the ECHR. In collaboration with the AHRC and other partners, the project involved policy research, as well as advancing scholarly publications, with a view to feeding into cutting-edge debate within the wider current affairs and policy community.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission replaced the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) and Disability Rights Commission (DRC). It came into being in 2007 amidst vocal opposition from across the political spectrum to the Human Rights Act, the increasing influence of human rights legislation emanating from the European Court of Human Rights and the legislative project that would eventually become the Equality Act 2010.
The transition from the three legacy commissions it replaced was difficult, but recently the EHRC has begun to take strides towards finding its distinctive institutional voice on the national stage. However, it continues to be buffeted by powerful political crosswinds, and it has remained largely peripheral to mainstream debate.
In 2009 the Commission joined the family of 66 ‘A’ status accredited National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) at the United Nations, becoming Great Britain’s first accredited NHRI and the UK’s second – joining the Northern Ireland Human Rights Institution which was awarded ‘A’ status in 2006.
The EHRC forms part of a worldwide community of NHRIs. Over the past twenty years national human rights commissions and human rights ombudsmen have emerged in every continent and subregion of the world. This institutional innovation is broadly defined as a body which is established by a government under the constitution, or by law or decree, the functions of which are specifically designed in terms of the promotion and protection of human rights.
Accounts of the number of NHRIs now in existence vary from around 120 to 178, established in approximately 130 countries. By conservative measures, since 1990 the population of NHRIs has witnessed a staggering fifteen-fold increase (at the rate of over five new institutions established per year).
Management Details
Lead researcher & project contact:
| Name | Position | Institute | Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Par Engstrom | ||||
| Dr Thomas Pegram | Asisstant Professor of Political Science | Trinity College Dublin | pegramt@tcd.ie |
Related Activities
Related events:
| Title | Details | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Equality and Human Rights Commission Workshop | This one-day roundtable workshop was conceived as a forum for practitioners, academics and policymakers from across disciplines to engage in a constructive sharing of perspectives and insights related to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). This Human Rights Consortium/AHRC workshop, with the support of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, involved individuals from the EHRC, researchers from universities of Oxford, Bristol, Nottingham, Durham and Liverpool and a range of policy experts from the public and third sector. It offered a constructive policy-oriented appraisal of the EHRC at a time of growing domestic and international interest in the role of this institution in advancing domestic equality and human rights standards. The meeting was intended to feed into current policy discussions around equality and human rights compliance in the UK and specifically the role of the EHRC in this field. The workshop reflects earlier discussion identifying significant gaps in existing knowledge on the activity and significance of the EHRC. The workshop offered an invaluable opportunity to: • Deepen understanding of the eventful experience of the EHRC over the past four years • Feed into current policy discussions around equality and human rights compliance in the UK • Discuss the future prospects for the EHRC with international experts in the field • Evaluate the impact of significant budgetary reductions on the EHRC as well as possible reform of the EHRC’s remit and powers in the context of the Public Bodies Bill • Assist in the development of a network of practitioners, policymakers, and researchers brought together by a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC • Develop collaboration with partners within the academic, policy and legal world • Form the basis for an eventual publication. |
01-Jan-2011 |
| Equality and Human Rights Commission Seminar, October | The Arts and Humanities Research Council, Human Rights Consortium and Equality and Human Rights Commission convened the seminar: ‘Equality and Human Rights Commission: learning from the past and planning for the future as a catalyst for change and improvement’ on 24 October 2011. Following on from the Commission’s Triennial Review report – How Fair is Britain? – launched in October 2010, the Commission is producing a review which documents the state of human rights in England and Wales which will be published as the Human Rights Review in early 2012. This seminar brought together a wide range of stakeholders from within the EHRC and outside, and began with opening remarks from Jonathan Breckon, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, at the AHRC and Professor Geraldine Van Bueren, EHRC Commissioner and Professor of Law at Queen Mary, University of London. Three panels structured the day: 1. Triennial Review– what are the problems/challenges in the EHRC’s Equality Mandate? With presentations by: • David Darton, EHRC Director of Foresight • Professor Sandra Fredman, University of Oxford • David Ruebain, CEO Equality Challenge Unit • Nazila Ghanea, University of Oxford • Baroness Sally Greengross, CEO International Longevity Centre (UK) and EHRC Commissioner • Chaired by Professor Geraldine van Bueren, Commissioner, EHRC and Queen Mary, University of London 2. Human Rights Review – what are the problems/challenges in the EHRC’s Human Rights Mandate? With presentations by: • Anna Henry, Director of the Human Rights Programme, EHRC • Rachel Murray, University of Bristol • Maurice Sunkin, Essex University • Paul Iganski, Lancaster University • Carolyn Willow, national co-ordinator of the Children's Rights Alliance for England • Chaired by Tom Pegram, Human Rights Consortium, and Trinity College Dublin 3. Strategic Plan 2012-15 – the EHRC’s unique role in tackling the equality and human rights challenges With presentations by: • Mark Hammond, CEO EHRC • Amanda Ariss, CEO Equality and Diversity Forum • Simon Deakin, University of Cambridge • Murray Hunt, University of Oxford and adviser to the Joint Committee on Human Rights • Chaired by John Wadham, Group Director Legal, EHRC |
01-Jan-2011 |
Related publications/articles:
| Title | Details | Publication date |
|---|---|---|
| The Equality and Human Rights Commission at the Human Rights Council | This working paper series is intended to provide a showcase for the substantive content of the project as well as a useful reference point for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC, implementation of equality and human rights frameworks and NHRI research more broadly. The working papers provide exceptional insights from a variety of disciplinary and sector perspectives. They are intended as a web-based resource for the timely dissemination of preliminary research results and work in progress. The series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Shah, Sangeeta, 'The Equality and Human Rights Commission at the Human Rights Council' |
2012 |
| Intention or Design: What Makes an Effective Human Rights and Equality Commission? | This working paper series is intended to provide a showcase for the substantive content of the project as well as a useful reference point for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC, implementation of equality and human rights frameworks and NHRI research more broadly. The working papers provide exceptional insights from a variety of disciplinary and sector perspectives. They are intended as a web-based resource for the timely dissemination of preliminary research results and work in progress. The series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Spencer, Sarah, 'Intention or Design: What Makes an Effective Human Rights and Equality Commission?' |
2012 |
| The relationship between EHRC formal design and political function | This working paper series is intended to provide a showcase for the substantive content of the project as well as a useful reference point for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC, implementation of equality and human rights frameworks and NHRI research more broadly. The working papers provide exceptional insights from a variety of disciplinary and sector perspectives. They are intended as a web-based resource for the timely dissemination of preliminary research results and work in progress. The series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Pegram, Thomas, 'The relationship between EHRC formal design and political function' |
2012 |
| What has been the impact of EHRC enforcement activities in advancing domestic equality and human rights frameworks? | This working paper series is intended to provide a showcase for the substantive content of the project as well as a useful reference point for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC, implementation of equality and human rights frameworks and NHRI research more broadly. The working papers provide exceptional insights from a variety of disciplinary and sector perspectives. They are intended as a web-based resource for the timely dissemination of preliminary research results and work in progress. The series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. O’Dempsey, Declan, 'What has been the impact of EHRC enforcement activities in advancing domestic equality and human rights frameworks?' |
2012 |
| Annex: What has been the impact of EHRC enforcement activities in advancing domestic equality and human rights frameworks? | This working paper series is intended to provide a showcase for the substantive content of the project as well as a useful reference point for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC, implementation of equality and human rights frameworks and NHRI research more broadly. The working papers provide exceptional insights from a variety of disciplinary and sector perspectives. They are intended as a web-based resource for the timely dissemination of preliminary research results and work in progress. The series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. O’Dempsey, Declan, 'What has been the impact of EHRC enforcement activities in advancing domestic equality and human rights frameworks?' |
2012 |
| Impact or Enforcement Activities: Lion Tamer or Fly Swatter? | This working paper series is intended to provide a showcase for the substantive content of the project as well as a useful reference point for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC, implementation of equality and human rights frameworks and NHRI research more broadly. The working papers provide exceptional insights from a variety of disciplinary and sector perspectives. They are intended as a web-based resource for the timely dissemination of preliminary research results and work in progress. The series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. O’Brien, Nick, 'Impact or Enforcement Activities: Lion Tamer or Fly Swatter?' |
2012 |
| The EHRC, UN Treaty Bodies and the Implementation of International Human Rights Law | This working paper series is intended to provide a showcase for the substantive content of the project as well as a useful reference point for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC, implementation of equality and human rights frameworks and NHRI research more broadly. The working papers provide exceptional insights from a variety of disciplinary and sector perspectives. They are intended as a web-based resource for the timely dissemination of preliminary research results and work in progress. The series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Carver, Richard, 'The EHRC, UN Treaty Bodies and the Implementation of International Human Rights Law' |
2012 |
| The Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Act 1998 | This working paper series is intended to provide a showcase for the substantive content of the project as well as a useful reference point for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a professional and/or scholarly interest in the EHRC, implementation of equality and human rights frameworks and NHRI research more broadly. The working papers provide exceptional insights from a variety of disciplinary and sector perspectives. They are intended as a web-based resource for the timely dissemination of preliminary research results and work in progress. The series is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Amos, Merris, 'The Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Act 1998' |
2012 |
| Workshop report: The Equality and Human Rights Commission: Challenges and opportunities | This report summarises the one day workshop entitled The Equality and Human Rights Commission: Challenges and Opportunities, which took place in London on June 17 2011. The purpose of the day was to provide a forum for practitioners and scholars from across disciplines to undertake an appraisal of the EHRC. The Equality and Human Rights Commission replaced the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) and Disability Rights Commission (DRC). It came into being in 2007 amidst vocal opposition from across the political spectrum to the Human Rights Act, the increasing influence of human rights legislation emanating from the European Court of Human Rights and the legislative project that would eventually become the Equality Act 2010. The transition from the three legacy commissions it replaced was difficult, but recently the EHRC has begun to take strides towards finding its distinctive institutional voice on the national stage. However, it continues to be buffeted by powerful political crosswinds, and it has remained largely peripheral to mainstream debate. The workshop provided a timely contribution to debate on the development of the EHRC and its future at a time when it faces a number of issues in addition to its formation. |
2011 |