Events > Tackling Multiple Discrimination: Delivering Fairness for All

Event Details

Title:

Tackling Multiple Discrimination:
Delivering Fairness for All

Date:

Wednesday 10th February 2010

Time:

10:15am — 4:30pm

Venue:

One Whitehall Place at The Royal Horseguards, London

“We want the law to provide appropriate protection against the harmful discrimination people experience. Currently, the law does not always provide a remedy for an individual who experiences multiple discrimination … We know, however, that people are complex, with many different characteristics which make up who they are and which can affect the opportunities open to them and how they are treated. While the existing law gives most people the protection they need from discrimination, for some of the people who experience multiple discrimination, it is difficult, complicated and sometimes impossible to get a legal remedy. It is this gap in the law which we are seeking to address.”
— Equality Bill: ‘Assessing the Impact of a Multiple Discrimination Provision’ A Discussion Document, April 2009

“Our package of measures includes the Equality Bill we promised in our last manifesto, secondary legislation and action by the new Equality And Human Rights Commission. We expect everyone — the public sector, firms which do business with the public sector and companies in the private sector — to play their part.”
— Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, Minister for Women & Equality, 26th June 2008

Overview

The new Equality Bill is currently proceeding through the parliamentary process. It represents the Government’s latest package of measures intended to fulfil the pledge to champion equality, protect human rights and tackle discrimination at all levels and on all grounds be it race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief.

In addition to streamlining forty years of complex equality legislation into a single framework, the proposals initially outlined in Framework for a Fairer Future – The Equality Bill will seek to introduce new measures to “strengthen protection, advance equality and de-clutter the law”. Many argue that such a fundamental overhaul of equality legislation is long overdue, especially when the current law does not account for multiple identities, and thus provides a minefield for anyone who seeks a legal remedy to multiple-discrimination. It is hoped the new Equality Act will remove the barriers currently faced by anyone who falls into more than one equality ‘strand’.

This special Public Policy Exchange Symposium, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, offers a timely opportunity for stakeholders and local practitioners to discuss the steps needed to mainstream the concept of multiple identities into local equality frameworks. The Symposium will also assess the forthcoming Equality Act's contribution to tackling multi discrimination and impact on the equality and diversity landscape locally. Delegates will have the opportunity to engage and network with their peers and discuss the key challenges that lie ahead in moving towards a pro-fairness framework that places greater emphasis on delivering a multi-dimensional equality framework through collaboration, empowerment, openness and stronger public duty.

Programme

09:30

Registration and Morning Refreshments

10:15

Chair’s Welcome and Introduction
Marie Pye, Equality Consultant; Former Head of Policy, Disability Rights Commission (confirmed)

10:30

Panel Session One:
Recognising Multiple-Identities, Delivering a Multi-Dimensional Equality Framework

Understanding and Responding to the Complexity of Individual Identity
Incorporating the New and Existing Equality ‘Strands’
Understanding the New Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Landscape
Equality and Diversity in Local Community Cohesion Strategies

Ceri Goddard, Chief Executive, Fawcett Society (confirmed)
Nazia Mirza, Head of Cohesion and Partnerships, London Borough of Waltham Forest (confirmed)

11:15

Morning Refreshments

11:30

Open Floor Discussion and Debate with Panel One

12:30

Networking Lunch

13:30

Panel Session Two:
Preventing Multiple Discrimination in Every Instance: Preparing for the Equality Act

Delivering Fairness for All: Understanding the Public Duty
Preparing for the Equality Act – The Challenge for Local Authorities, Public Bodies and Employers
Harmonising Discrimination and Equality Laws into a Single Framework
Making Equal Opportunities a Reality through Transparency & Positive Action

Amanda Ariss, Chief Executive, Equality and Diversity Forum (confirmed)
Professor Aileen McColghan, Professor of Human Rights Law, King's College London; Member, Matrix Chambers (confirmed)
Michael Keating, National Adviser for Equality and Cohesion, Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) (confirmed)