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Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

Changing Equalities LandscapeAge, Disability, Race, Religion or Belief, Sex, Sexual Orientation

NEW LEGISLATION –

NEW EQUALITY RIGHTS

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WIDE-RANGING EQUALITIES

Six areas of equality / non-discrimination now supported by law: Race Disability Age Religion or Belief Sex Sexual Orientation

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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RACE EQUALITY TO OTHER EQUALITIES

• Beginning with Race & Sex Equality in 1970s – Equal Pay Act 1970, Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976.

• Gradual & increasing move to other equalities – disability, gender, religion or belief & age.

• Transition over last 40 years.

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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PREVIOUS LEGISLATION

• Race Relations Act 1976

• Equal Pay Act 1970

• Sex Discrimination Act 1975

• Disability Discrimination Act 2005

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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NEW LEGISLATION Sex Discrimination (Gender Re-assignment) Regulations 1999

Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulation 2003

Gender Recognition Act 2004

Disability Discrimination Act 2005

Civil Partnerships Act 2004

Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 2005

Employment Equality (Age) Regulation 2006

Equality Act 2006

Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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NEW LEGISLATION

Disability, Age, Religion, Belief, Sexual Orientation are now variously protected in law.

Covering employment and training, goods & services, education, housing and other areas.

A growing process – new EQUALITY BILL.

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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HOUNSLOW DIVERSE POPULATION 212,341 population

35% Black & Minority Ethnic

65% ‘White’

67% of pupils from BME

13% of pensionable age

79% of religious background

13% of no religion

49% Male

51% Female

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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HOUNSLOW EQUALITIES PARTNERSHIP - Objectives

Local network of equalities group Form common strategies Share expertise and resources Promote awareness about equality rights Combine advocacy & representation Lobby for financial support for equality services

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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Proposal:

‘HOUNSLOW

EQUALITIES

PARTNERSHIP’

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ENVISAGED MEMBERS• Black & Minority Ethnic Groups• Refugee Groups• Disability Network Hounslow• Hounslow Disability Forum• The Asian Health Agency• Age Concern • Citizens Advice Bureau• Hounslow Domestic Violence Network• Religious Groups• Homophobic Crime Stakeholder Group• Council for Voluntary Services (Hounslow)• Hounslow Borough Council• Hounslow Police

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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HOUNSLOW EQUALITIES PARTNERSHIP

Structure Membership Functions Terms of reference Sharing expertise & resources Funding

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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STRUCTURE• A central working group of about 10 groups (specialist in

equalities).

• Specialist sub-groups on race, age, disability, religion, sex, etc

• A wider, grassroot membership contributing ideas and proposals.

• Grassroot membership – local groups representing Hounslow’s diversity.

• Policies and actions driven by grassroot membership.

• Administered by Hounslow Race & Equalities Council.

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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FUNCTIONS• Meet quarterly to consider local equality priorities.

• Devise actions.

• Communicate with grassroot member groups.

• Engage public, private & community sector groups on equality issues.

• Monitor and scrutinise equality actions by local public bodies.

• Promote resourcing of local equality service providers & advocacy services.

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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TERMS OF REFERENCE• To work together, in the Hounslow Borough area, to:

a) promote positive action on equality and diversity by all groups and organisations;

b) mutually aid and support equality & diversity rights groups;

c) take shared action to monitor and scrutinise equality practises by public and major bodies in Hounslow;

d) Promote prioritisation of equality and diversity, and resourcing of equality service providers and equality advocacy services.”

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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SHARING EXPERTISE & RESOURCES

Collaborative advice and casework services

Collaborative information events

Collaborative proposals for improving equality actions and services.

Collaborative funding applications

Collaborative monitoring and investigations of equality practises

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council

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FUNDING• Statutory sector funding (e.g. Equalities &

Human Rights Commission, National Lottery, Home Office, Hounslow Borough)

• Partnership (member) contributions

• Charitable sector funding

Hounslow Race & Equalities Council