Stonewall responds to the EHRC's letter to Government published today
Today the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) wrote to the Minister for Women and Equalities asking for government action on their draft code of practice.
In response to the letter, a Stonewall spokesperson said:
“The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) statutory Code of Practice provides important guidance to organisations and service providers covering all protected characteristics including race, disability, and religion.
“At this time of turmoil, hostile rhetoric, and increasing hate towards minorities, it would seem ill-advised to revoke statutory guidance leaving those with protected characteristics vulnerable. It is deeply concerning that it is the EHRC, the body tasked with protecting the rights of all, that would make this request to Government.
“The EHRC’s wish to remove the guidance comes in the same week that 160 civil society leaders have written to the Government asking them to take a stand against the scapegoating of marginalised communities.
“The EHRC risks riding roughshod over government and parliamentary processes, hours after the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe warned the Government and others about the UK’s domestic human rights environment.
“Despite the emergence of numerous pieces of case law concerning different protected groups, the EHRC has not updated the statutory Code of Practice since 2011. It is unclear why the EHRC would now risk further damaging societal cohesion by leaving organisations and service providers in limbo.”
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