TMP Online

A survey conducted for the new Equality and Human Rights Commission (formerly referred to as the Commission for Equality and Human Rights) reveals that 46% of people in Great Britain believe that they have faced unfair discrimination. Speaking on the opening of the new Commission this week, its Chair - Trevor Phillips - said:

“We live in an age of difference where most of us believe that people must be judged on their abilities, not their age, what they look like, their disability or their families and private lives.”

In the survey, amongst the population as a whole respondents pinpointed ethnicity, disability, religion and age as the top causes of unfairness; a third or more identified these as the basis for discrimination. When prompted half of those questioned also said that sexual orientation was often a reason for unfair treatment.

Two out of five (41%) of those who said they have faced discrimination of some kind said it occurred at work. Three quarters of all those interviewed (74%) think that most discrimination occurs in the workplace; half consider that schools, colleges and universities are also common sites of unfairness.

Mr Phillips continued:

“We have made immense progress over the past 30 years in giving women and minority groups the right to redress against discrimination. We will continue to support meritorious and significant individual cases. But we can do even better by working to change underlying attitudes and biased behaviour. Our task is to make the diversity of our society a source of energy and prosperity, not a cause for friction and inequality.”

The new Commission will provide information and practical guidance to employers, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals. It will monitor performance and enforce equality law in the areas of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and transgender status.

The Commission also has a unique new mandate to promote a human rights culture, particularly ensuring that higher standards of dignity and respect are applied to those in institutional care, for example children, the elderly and those in psychiatric care.

The GfK-NOP poll also showed that three out of four people who feel that they have been treated unfairly do not take any action. The most common reason was that they felt that there would be nothing to be gained. Mr Phillips said:

“This is the clearest reason for the existence of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and equality law. Unless people feel that they can deal openly with unfairness we risk a simmering cauldron of resentment to poison our workplaces and schools. Our work isn’t about supporting vexatious litigation by a few persistent grumblers; it is about building a fairer, more confident and more united Britain.”

Equality and Human Rights Commission Chief Executive, Dr Nicola Brewer, added:

“The evidence is that British people want to change this. But often people don’t have the means or the information to make that change happen. The work of the Commission, through commonsense advice and support to individuals and employers; through research and investigations; and through our contribution to major debates on questions such as dignity in care, young people and crime and human rights will accelerate movement towards our vision of a society built on fairness and respect.”

Commenting on the new Commission’s launch, Secretary of State for Equality, Harriet Harman said:

“Fighting discrimination, prejudice and hatred in all its forms and giving everyone the chance to fulfil their potential in a fair and peaceful society will be at the heart of this Government.

“We are proud of our track record on equalities and the creation of the new Commission is another important step forward. With the leadership of Trevor Phillips and the other commissioners, it will be a powerful and effective voice to ensure that people are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.”

Equality and human rights research:

The findings of a GfK-NOP poll for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (1087 adults across Great Britain) found that many individuals have experienced discrimination at some point in their lives, but thought they would not get any help.

74 per cent said that work was the most common setting where people experienced discrimination today
73 per cent of those who experienced discrimination said that they did not make a complaint
38 per cent of those who experienced discrimination said they did not complain because they thought there was nothing to be gained
Respondents when given a list of reasons why people most commonly faced discrimination in Britain today responded:

66 per cent said ethnic background
50 per cent said people who are gay, lesbian or bisexual
49 per cent said age
49 per cent said religion, faith or belief
48 per cent said long term health problem, impairment or disability
The poll asked respondents where people in Britain most commonly experience discrimination or unfair treatment today. From a list of reasons they responded:

74 per cent said work or when in a job or applying for a job
50 per cent said school, college university
45 per cent said while out or about
42 per cent said housing