Rights & Wrongs

The Equality and Human Rights Comission (EHRC), which opened for business on 1 October 2007, has a grand mission with which no-one could disagree. It aims to "eliminate discrimination reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society".

The new body will combine the work of the "legacy" commissions, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).

The Commission has faced criticism from all sides - even before it was set up. Some critics charge that the new body will dilute the work of the three legacy comission and, by seeking to please everyone, will end up pleasing nobody. However, the budget of £70 million annually, is more than the combined budget of the three legacy commissions and the Government claims that there will be savings from the merge.

Sir Bert Massie, lifelong disability rights campaigner and Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, comments, " There is a danger that by taking a broad brush stroke you don't have sufficient tools to do the fine detail, which is what disability is all about." Sir Bert believes that in order to be successful, the CEHR must be relevant and listen to disabled people, dealing with all issues, big and small.