London, 7 July 2011

The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) has written to David Cameron MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, calling on him not to repeal or emasculate the Equality Act 2010, stating that such a move would both damage the UK’s international reputation and limit the UK’s ability to meet its international law obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the rights to equality and non-discrimination.

The letter comes in response to the inclusion of the Equality Act in the Red Tape Challenge – a consultation on the impact of regulations which are perceived to affect business performance – and focuses on the international dimensions of any decision to repeal or emasculate the Act.

ERT’s letter states that the Act is the principle mechanism through which the UK meets its obligation to protect the right to non-discrimination under a range of international instruments, including the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. It stresses that the Act is also the key mechanism through which the UK meets its obligations to fulfil and promote the right by taking measures to address substantive inequality, including through the adoption of equality policies and action plans and the adoption of temporary special measures designed to accelerate progress towards equality.

ERT goes on to argue that the Act forms a key pillar of the UK’s international reputation as a country which is concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights. Drawing on ERT’s experience advocating the adoption of comprehensive equality legislation in a range of different states, the letter stresses the extent to which ERT’s own work has drawn on the UK experience. It highlights the increasing extent to which concepts and principles from the Equality Act are being relied upon as an example in efforts to develop new equality legislation outside the UK.

Speaking about ERT’s response to the Red Tape Challenge consultation on the Equality Act, ERT Executive Director Dimitrina Petrova said:

“Not only is this Act critical to the UK’s efforts to meet it’s international legal obligations, it is also an important international symbol of the UK’s commitment to human rights generally, and equality in particular.

“The UK government should be proud of the fact that UK legislation is seen as a leading example of effective equality law, and that it is being relied upon as an example by those working to combat discrimination.

“In our view, any regressive amendments to weaken the Equality Act will undermine the UK’s ability to speak authoritatively about human rights concerns.”

To read ERT’s letter to Prime Minister David Cameron about the Red Tape Challenge review of the Equality Act 2010, click here.