At long last Britain’s new Equality and Human Rights Commission has opened its doors for business. I shall have to get used to saying “EHRC” rather than “CEHR” (Commission for Equality and Human Rights), which is what those of us working on equalities and human rights issues have been saying and thinking since the Equality Act came onto the statute book in 2006.

It will be interesting to see how the EHRC picks up the work of the so-called “legacy commissions” - the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission - without, we hope, dropping the ball in any of the old equality strands (race, gender, disability). At the same time, the EHRC has to develop guidance and work in the so-called “new equality strands” of religion or belief, sexual orientation, and age.

As a Baha’i and as Chair of the Religion and Belief Consultative Group on Equality and Human Rights (RBCG) I have a particular interest in the religion or belief strand and will be keeping a close eye on developments. The greatest challenge for the EHRC will be in creating a culture in which human rights and equalities are promoted and provide a space for human dignity and human flourishing.

Technorati Tags: EHRC, human rights, equality, human dignity, religion

Not a minuscule version of the former UN Secretary General, that’s for sure.

Tom, Maya and Vicky Leith (aka Little Kofi)

Little Kofi is the performing name of my daughter-in-law, Victoria Leith. Vicky is an excellent musician and has just put some of her music on her MySpace site.

I may be biased, but I say “Click on and have a listen!”

Technorati Tags: Little Kofi, music, Leith

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