On 13 November, UNA Westminster branch convened a meeting at the House of Lords to discuss the proposed extensive changes to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
Chaired by Lord Judd of Portsea, the meeting convened a range of speakers with experience in the field of equality and human rights:
- Professor Sir Bob Hepple QC
- Amanda Harris, CEO of the Equality & Diversity Forum
- Sanchita Hosali, Senior Policy & Legal Affairs Advisor at the British Institute of Human Rights
- John Wadham, Legal Director at the Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Christopher Stanley, Research and Casework Manager at British Irish Rights Watch
- Lord Dholakia
The speakers assessed the future of EHRC given the proposed cut backs detailed in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, which had its second reading in the House of Lords today.
Professor Hepple cited UNA-UK's recent submission to the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the particular concern that the changes could threaten the independence of the organisation and therefore put EHRC's 'A status' as a National Human Rights Institution at risk.
